How much is pikachu illustrator card worth

A rare Pikachu Illustrator card has been purchased for a heady $900k, making it the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold.

The card in question features a Pikachu adorably clutching a paintbrush as it stands over a painting of a Charmander (via Kotaku). The card is then offset with a holographic background. Its layout is much like that of a Trainer card, however the writing across it instead says "Illustrator".

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These cards are incredibly rare, with only 39 of them ever being produced. This is because they were never actually sold. Rather, they were released as a prize in an illustration contest through CoroCoro Comic in 1998.

In addition to their scarcity, the artwork on the card was designed by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is credited as being one of Pikachu's creators, making these cards an even more desirable acquisition for collectors.

It is currently not known who purchased this particular Pikachu Illustrator card, however it is not the first time this card has made headlines. In 2019, another card like this sold at an auction in New York for a comparatively conservative $195k. Meanwhile, in 2016, one was sold on eBay for $54,970 (which now seems almost like a steal given the inflation of recent sales).

The huge spike in auction prices for items such as this Pokémon card has once more brought into question the way money changes hands. Or, more specifically, how and why that money has skyrocketed recently, with game grading companies such as Wata making their own headlines for questionable business activities.

Wata has often pushed the prices of collectible video games it has appraised into the hundreds and thousands of dollars. While not an issue in itself, the company has been revealed to cross a line in relation to its rules of selling stock.

In 2021, Wata's co-founder Mark Haspel was revealed to be selling Wata graded games on eBay, despite there being an obvious conflict of interest.

It is safe to say, practises such as these have not only raised the prices of collectables, but a fair number of eyebrows as well.

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The internet was taken by surprise when Logan Paul, the YouTube sensation wore his $5 million Pokemon card to his first-ever WWE Wrestlemania match. Paul carried the PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card with him during his walk from the Wrestlemania stage to the ring.

After the wrestling match, Paul was also presented with a Guinness World Record for owning the "most expensive Pokemon trading card sold at a private sale." Keep reading to know more about the world's most expensive Pokemon card. 

Here is how Logan Paul got the Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card

Logan Paul purchased the PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card in Dubai on 22 July 2021. To get his hands on the card, Paul traded his PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator card, which was worth $1.2 million (bought by Paul from Matt Alen in Italy). Along with that, the professional boxer/wrestler paid $4 million, which brings the cost of his PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card to $5.25 million. As mentioned by Paul in a statement via Guiness World Records, only 39 of the cards were given to an illustration contest winner in 1998 and the one he possesses is the only card in the world to be graded "10" by Professional Sports Authenticator (earlier referred to as PSA).

Upon looking at the PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, one would notice the year "1998" mentioned on the top. It refers to the year this card was given in the "Pokemon Card Game Illustration Contest" which is also mentioned on the card in Japanese. The main graphic on the card contains an illustration of the popular Pokemon, Pikachu. Paul says that the "Pikachu Illustrator is one of the rarest and most highly coveted Pokemon cards in the world" which has been acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records with a certificate as well.   

WWE shares video of Paul wearing world's most expensive Pokemon Card

Owning the world's most expensive Pokemon card was not enough for the internet celebrity as he accessorised the card along with his Wolverine-style costume. WWE also tweeted from its official Twitter handle about the Pokemon card Logan Paul wore to his Wrestlemania debut on 3 April 2022. Have a look at the tweet attached below. Immediately after Paul finished his match with a victory, he was presented with the Guinness certificate backstage by adjudicator Mike Marcotte. 

How rare is the Pikachu Illustrator card?

How much is the Pikachu Illustrator card worth 2022?

How many PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator cards are there?