The history behind Pikachu Illustrator
To understand why Pikachu Illustrator is the world's most expensive Pokémon card, you have to go back to the late 1990s. This is not a card that was created to be sold – it was created to be won.
Pikachu Illustrator was awarded as a prize in an illustration contest organized by CoroCoro Comic in Japan between 1997 and 1998. Children and young people were invited to submit their own Pokémon drawings, and the winners were rewarded with an exclusive card that was never available in regular booster packs.
From the very beginning, the card was therefore extremely limited – and that laid the foundation for its future value.
Design and significance
The card depicts Pikachu with a paintbrush and pen, reflecting the contest's focus on creativity. The illustration was created by Atsuko Nishida, one of the original designers behind Pikachu, which makes the card a unique piece of Pokémon history.
Another detail that makes the card unique is that it has the title “Illustrator” instead of the usual “Trainer.” It is the only card in the Pokémon TCG with this title.
How rare is Pikachu Illustrator?
It is estimated that only about 39 copies were officially awarded, although some sources mention up to 41 in total. Regardless of the exact number, it is one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever produced.
The extremely low print run, combined with the card's history, means that demand far exceeds supply – which drives the price up sharply.
Pikachu Illustrator value – from $5 million to $16.5 million
The value of Pikachu Illustrator is driven by rarity, history, and demand – but also by one of the most high-profile deals in the history of trading cards.
In 2021, Logan Paul bought a PSA 10 copy for approximately 5.275 million USD (approximately 55 million SEK), which even then set a record for a Pokémon card.
In February 2026, he sold the same card at auction for 16.49 million USD (approximately 147 million SEK at the time of sale) – more than three times the purchase price.
The deal set a new world record and made Pikachu Illustrator the world's most expensive Pokémon card and the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
The sale became global news and cemented the card's status as a “holy grail” in the world of trading cards – an object almost no one owns, but everyone knows about.
Pikachu Illustrator as a collector's icon
Pikachu Illustrator is more than just an expensive card – it is a symbol of the entire history of the Pokémon TCG. It shows how an object can go from a prize in a children's contest to one of the world's most sought-after collectibles.
For collectors, the card represents everything that drives value: rarity, narrative, design, and status.
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FAQ – Pikachu Illustrator
What is Pikachu Illustrator?
Pikachu Illustrator is an extremely rare Pokémon card that was awarded as a prize in a Japanese illustration contest in 1997–1998.
How much is Pikachu Illustrator worth?
The card has been sold for up to 16.49 million USD and is the world's most expensive Pokémon card.
How many Pikachu Illustrator cards exist?
It is estimated that approximately 39 copies were officially awarded.
Can you get Pikachu Illustrator in booster packs?
No, the card was never available in booster packs but was only awarded to winners in a contest.
More notable cards and sales
See our selection of the world's most expensive Pokémon cards. For the history of the earliest playable cards, you can read the article about the 1996 CoroCoro Pikachu.