Logan Paul makes record-breaking sale of rare Pikachu Pokémon card after $5.3m purchase

Logan Paul agreed to sell the rare Pikachu Illustrator card he bought for $5.3m, with auction set for February

Logan Paul has agreed to sell the rarest and most valuable Pokémon card ever produced, after originally purchasing it for $5.3 million.

The card, known as the Pikachu Illustrator, is set to be auctioned on February 15 following negotiations featured in the latest season of Netflix’s King of Collectables: The Goldin Touch.

The Pikachu Illustrator card was first released in 1997 as a prize for winners of an illustration contest run by CoroCoro magazine, rather than through retail sale. Its limited availability has made it the most sought-after Pokémon card in existence.

Paul previously set a world record for owning the most expensive Pokémon card after acquiring it in a private deal and later wearing it during his WrestleMania appearance.

In the series, auctioneer Ken Goldin discusses plans to stage what he described as the largest Pokémon and trading card game auction to date.

Goldin proposed that the full auction could generate up to $25 million and offered Paul a percentage of the overall proceeds. After negotiations, Goldin agreed to provide Paul with an upfront payment of $2.5 million as part of the deal.

Paul confirmed the sale on social media, stating that Goldin had pursued him for years to part with the card. He said the decision was difficult and acknowledged uncertainty over whether the card would ever be offered for sale again. He added that he believed he had made the right decision.

The auction will include the Pikachu Illustrator card along with its custom chain, which Paul has previously said is valued at $75,000. He also confirmed that he would personally deliver the card to the winning bidder.

The final sale price will be known following the auction in February, with Paul set to receive both the advance and a share of the total auction proceeds.