Share and Follow
In a remarkable auction on Monday, Logan Paul parted ways with his cherished Pokémon trading card for an astounding $16.49 million, shattering the Guinness World Record for the highest price ever paid for a trading card at auction.
The high-stakes auction spanned 42 days, culminating in Paul placing the coveted Pikachu Illustrator card around the neck of A.J. Scaramucci, the successful bidder. Scaramucci, a venture capitalist, is notably the son of Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director.
“This is unbelievable,” Paul exclaimed as the transaction was finalized, clearly awed by the moment.
In addition to the rare card, Paul included a diamond necklace and a custom case in the deal, both of which he famously donned during WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
Originally acquired by Paul five years ago for approximately $5.275 million, the pristine card from the late 1990s earned the 30-year-old YouTube sensation a substantial profit of around $8 million.
His original purchase also broke the record for the most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale, according to the Guinness World Records.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson was at the YouTube livestreamed auction for its closure on Monday and confirmed the price was the highest bid for any trading card sold at auction.
The holy grail card for collectors was designed by Atsuko Nishida for a 1998 contest and is one of only a few dozen believed to exist.
Paul’s card is in pristine condition and is likely to be the only one in circulation with a quality rating of 10.
The famed YouTuber turned professional wrestler bid his rare card a heartfelt farewell in an Instagram post before the final sale to Scaramucci.
“Goodbye, my friend. What a privilege it’s been to be the owner of the greatest collectible in the world,” Paul, who is known for making videos with his brother, Jake, said to his 26.8 million Instagram followers.
“From Guinness World Records to WWE debuts, Netflix to National News, this card and I have been on a generational run,” Paul added.
“This sorta feels like that moment when you beat the Elite Four, get inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the game restarts. As this Grail changes hands, I’m excited to go on my next Pokémon journey.”
With Post wires