<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An ultra-rare </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/alleged-pokemon-card-theft-syndicate-leaders-face-court/d8b83d45-3f99-4d9e-9eeb-3d95d2cd828d" rel="" target="_blank" title="Pokémon card"><span>Pokémon card</span></a><span> owned by wrestler and YouTuber </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/crowds-have-flocked-to-meet-youtube-star-logan-paul-outside-channel-nines-studios/ab57ec46-bca5-4ab6-b8be-32912b447de6" rel="" target="_blank" title="Logan Paul"><span>Logan Paul</span></a><span> has been sold at an auction for a record $US16.5 million ($23.3 million).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul purchased the Pikachu Illustrator card in Dubai in 2021 for $7.5 million – the most expensive Pokémon card to ever change hands in a private sale.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pricey trading card investment has proved staggeringly lucrative for the 30-year-old social media star.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-shot-at-greenacre-in-serious-condition/173b8be1-7955-4fd9-969a-0cc2618222e6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Former NRL player Matt Utai shot in Sydney drive-by attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/el-nino-forecast-chances-rise-of-hot-dry-weather-system/5b14e487-185d-431b-b9f0-edb17719fead" target="_blank"><strong><span>Signs Australia could be facing a hot, dry El Niño for 2026</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Auction house Goldin confirmed AJ Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, bought the "holy grail" of collectibles for $23.3 million following an hours-long bidding war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul live-streamed the bidding on his YouTube channel and on Instagram.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/logan-paul-pikachu-pokemon-card-sells-for-record-figure-at-auction/8f65ed01-6676-4b9b-9f30-c4cda711973c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After the winning bid, a Guinness World Records official appeared on-screen and confirmed Paul had broken the record for selling the most expensive trading card ever at an auction.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is understood Paul will walk away with around $11 million in profit after subtracting auction fees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The well-preserved Pokémon card comes complete with a diamond-encrusted necklace, which Paul wore in his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brendan-breen-missing-fathers-mystery-disappearance-now-considered-suspicious/04c89457-4ee7-4ac3-951e-6f2dd0bfda77" target="_blank"><strong><span>Father's mystery disappearance now considered suspicious</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul also said he would hand-deliver the card, however Scaramucci was present at Goldin headquarters and collected his bounty immediately.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pikachu Illustrator cards were issued in 1998 and only 40 are believed to be in circulation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul's card is the only one to have been graded a perfect 10 by a Professional Sports Authenticator.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No card in the hobby can boast the same prestige and elite place at the very pinnacle of the Pokémon hobby like this unimaginable Holy Grail piece," Goldin noted on its website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/robert-duvall-actor-dead-aged-95/80650053-dae8-40c5-8c1a-8d67ddc4d491" target="_blank"><strong><span>Oscar-winning screen legend Robert Duvall dead at 95</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The YouTuber appeared on an episode of Netflix's </span><em><span>King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,</span></em><span> where auction house owner Ken Goldin was seen convincing him to sell it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Pokémon market is blazing hot. It's dominating the market and that's the number one card," Goldin said at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul said he would use some of the funds to pay for his wedding to fiancee, Danish model Nina Agdal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the auction, Paul said he also spent around $770,535 on other Pokémon product – mostly sealed boxes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pokémon cards, which were popularised in the 1990s, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokemon-cards-thefts-sydney/0f74cea6-1dcc-42ac-9f17-cdd5ddad2f70" rel="" target="_blank" title="are skyrocketing in value"><span>are skyrocketing in value</span></a><span> due to collector interest in rare cards in mint condition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>