Consigned by American influencer Logan Paul via Goldin Auctions, the legendary “Pokémon Illustrator” card features Pikachu and boasts a perfect grade 10 rating. This specific card is one of only 39 awarded to winners of a 1998 Japanese drawing contest.

Mr Paul originally acquired the card for $5.27 million (c. £3.88m) in a 2021 private sale, a feat that earned him a Guinness World Record. The recent auction saw the card sold alongside a custom diamond necklace, with the anonymous winner appearing briefly on Mr Paul’s YouTube livestream to claim the prize, The Mainichi reports

This sale comfortably surpassed the previous record held by a Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant basketball card, which sold for $12.93m (c. £9.53m) in 2025.

Prior to the sale, auction house founder Ken Goldin predicted the card would exceed $10m (c. £7.37m), noting its significant appreciation in value over the last few years.