Pikachu Illustrator Card: The $16.49 Million Holy Grail of Pokémon

The Pikachu Illustrator is the most famous Pokémon card ever made, and it was never sold in a booster pack. It was awarded to winners of illustration contests run by CoroCoro Comic in Japan in 1997 and 1998, which makes it a true trophy card rather than a normal release. In February 2026, the only PSA 10 copy in existence sold at Goldin Auctions for $16,492,000, the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction in any category.

This guide covers what the Pikachu Illustrator actually is, how many copies exist, the full price history including the Logan Paul saga, and how to research values if you ever encounter one.

What Is the Pikachu Illustrator Card?

The Pikachu Illustrator was created as a prize for Pokémon illustration contests held through CoroCoro Comic, a Japanese manga magazine. Contest participants submitted original Pokémon artwork, and winners received this card instead of anything that could be pulled from packs.

Two details separate it from every other Pokémon card. First, the top of the card reads "Illustrator" instead of "Trainer," and it is the only Pokémon card ever printed with that title. Second, the artwork was drawn by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu, and shows Pikachu holding art supplies, a celebration of the artists behind the cards themselves.

It is a commemorative award card, not a playable one. It has no place in tournament play, and its entire value comes from what it represents.

How Many Pikachu Illustrator Cards Are There?

Only 39 copies were officially awarded through the CoroCoro contests. For years, collectors believed even fewer had survived. Then in 2019, two additional copies surfaced from Yuichi Konno, who was involved in creating the original Pokémon TCG rules, bringing the total known population to roughly 41 copies.

Far fewer survive in collectible condition. PSA has graded roughly 30 copies in total, and exactly one has ever achieved PSA 10. That single Gem Mint copy is why the card's price ceiling behaves less like a trading card and more like fine art.

The Logan Paul PSA 10: From $5.275 Million to $16.49 Million

During the 2021 collecting boom, Logan Paul bought a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator for $1.275 million. In July 2021, he arranged a private deal in Dubai to acquire the world's only PSA 10, trading his PSA 9 plus $4 million in cash, a transaction valued at $5.275 million. Guinness World Records recognized it as the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold in a private sale, and Paul famously wore the slab around his neck at his WrestleMania debut in 2022.

In early 2026, Paul consigned the card to Goldin Auctions. On February 16, 2026, it hammered for a final price of $16,492,000, setting the all-time record for any trading card sold at auction. The winning bidder was not publicly identified at the time of the sale.

Pikachu Illustrator Price by Grade

Because only one PSA 10 exists, the $16.49 million result is the benchmark for the entire card, not a repeatable comp. Lower grades trade on their own ladder. Mid-grade copies have sold from the low six figures into seven figures depending on timing: a PSA 7 sold for $375,000 at auction in early 2021, before the market's biggest run-up. Even heavily played and authenticated-only copies command six figures, because owning a Pikachu Illustrator at any grade is the achievement.

For a live market estimate, check the card's PriceCharting page, and remember that with a population this small, any single listed value is an approximation between rare sales.

Why Is the Pikachu Illustrator So Expensive?

Every value driver in the hobby converges on this one card. It has one of the lowest confirmed populations of any Pokémon card. It features the franchise mascot. It carries the only "Illustrator" title ever printed. It has museum-grade provenance, including a Guinness World Record and one of the most publicized auctions in collectibles history. And at the top grade, it is a population of exactly one. When rarity, demand, and story all peak on the same card, prices stop following normal trading card logic.

Can You Buy a Pikachu Illustrator?

Realistically, copies only change hands through major auction houses like Goldin, PWCC, and Heritage, or through elite private sales. Because the card was never pack-issued, any raw, ungraded copy you encounter should be assumed fake until proven otherwise; counterfeits and reprints are common. If you are ever in a position to buy one, insist on an authenticated, graded example with clear provenance.

Track Graded Pikachu Prices with Slabfolio

You may never own an Illustrator, but the same forces, population, grade, and provenance, drive every graded Pikachu card. Slabfolio tracks recent sold prices and PSA population data so you can see exactly where your slabs stand. Look up any card with the price lookup tool, and see how the Illustrator compares to the rest of the market in our guide to the best graded Pikachu cards.

Pikachu Illustrator FAQ

How many Pikachu Illustrator cards are there?

39 copies were officially awarded through CoroCoro Comic illustration contests in 1997 and 1998. Two more copies surfaced in 2019, so roughly 41 are known to exist. Only one has ever been graded PSA 10.

Who owns the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator now?

Logan Paul owned it from July 2021 until February 2026, when it sold at Goldin Auctions for $16,492,000. The winning bidder was not publicly identified at the time of the sale.

Why is the Pikachu Illustrator card so expensive?

It combines the lowest population of any major Pokémon card, the franchise mascot, the only Illustrator title ever printed, celebrity provenance, and a one-of-one PSA 10. No other card stacks all of those factors at once.

What does the Pikachu Illustrator card do?

Nothing in gameplay. It is a commemorative award card and is not legal in tournament play. Its value is entirely as a collectible.

How much is a Pikachu Illustrator worth?

The one PSA 10 sold for $16,492,000 in February 2026. Lower-grade copies have sold from the low six figures to over $1 million depending on condition and market timing. With so few sales, always check the most recent comps before relying on any single number.