Logan Paul has sold his ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for a record-breaking $16.59 million at auction, setting a new mark for the highest-selling trading card ever recorded, as reported by Gamespot.

The WWE wrestler and YouTuber originally purchased the card in 2021 for $5.275 million, which at the time broke the standing record for a trading card sale.

Paul later wore the card, encased in a custom holder and chain, during his 2022 WrestleMania debut.

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The card was placed up for auction in January, with Paul initially asking for $1.3 million. He stated that he would hand-deliver the card to the auction winner. The online auction house Goldin handled the bidding process.

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Bidding quickly climbed to $4.5 million during the first week of the auction.

By January 14, the price had reached $5.1 million. In the final 24 hours before the auction closed, dozens of bids were submitted, driving the price up to $13.3 million. With a 24% buyer’s fee added, the total sale price reached $16.59 million.

A Guinness World Record Adjudicator was present to verify that the sale set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a trading card.

The buyer was AJ Scaramucci, a venture capitalist with the firm Solari Capital. Scaramucci attended the final bidding session. After the auction concluded, Paul placed the card around his neck.

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The Pikachu Illustrator card was never sold in retail stores. It was awarded as a prize during a 1998 illustration contest.

The card features artwork by Atsuko Nishida, Pikachu’s original creator. Only 39 copies were printed for the winners of the contest.

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Of those 39, this specific card is the only example graded a “10” by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), indicating it is in “gem mint” condition.

The sale highlights the continued demand for rare Pokémon memorabilia.

Pokémon cards have become a significant segment of the collectibles market in recent years and have even been linked to armed robberies as their value has increased.

Paul’s sale not only delivered a substantial return on his original $5.275 million purchase but also reset the market for high-end trading cards.