Most expensive pokemon card: the current record and what it means

Quick answer: the most expensive Pokemon card on record is the Pikachu Illustrator, which sold in a private transaction for $5,275,000 in 2022 (PSA 10). It remains the all‑time leader as of 2025.

Card: Pikachu Illustrator (1998 CoroCoro Illustration Contest Prize)

Grade: PSA 10

Population: Extremely low; the highest‑graded example

Sale type: Private sale (widely reported, documented transfer)

Why it’s #1:

Historical importance: awarded to winners of the earliest official illustration contest

Scarcity: believed 39–41 copies exist; far fewer in high grade

Cultural significance: a true “trophy” prize with unique artwork crediting the illustrator

This combination of provenance, scarcity, and cultural weight places Pikachu Illustrator at the top of the Pokemon TCG hierarchy.

While nothing has eclipsed the Illustrator record, several categories command six‑ and seven‑figure results:

Trophy Pikachu (No. 1/2/3 Trainer, late 1990s)

Tournament prize cards awarded to top finalists

Extremely low populations, especially in top grades

1st Edition Base Set Charizard (Shadowless) PSA 10

The most iconic “collector grail” in booster‑pulled cards

Public sales have reached the mid‑six figures at peaks

Rare Japanese promos (late 1990s–early 2000s)

University Magikarp, Neo prize cards, and other limited distributions

Values vary widely by grade, provenance, and pop

For specific cards, verify recent sold comps via the Price Checker.

Provenance and prestige

Trophy/prize cards and historically significant promos

Extreme scarcity

Tiny print runs and very low PSA/CGC 10 populations

Cultural demand

Iconic characters (Charizard, Pikachu) and top‑tier artwork

Grade difficulty

Tough‑to‑gem cards develop nonlinear PSA 10 premiums

Importantly, the “most expensive” card is not necessarily the “most valuable” across all grades. Many cards are valuable, but very few become the single most expensive.

Public auction houses (Heritage, PWCC, etc.) with transparent results

Grading certification and population reports (PSA/CGC/BGS)

Private sales corroborated by documented transfers and public statements

Outliers exist. Always cross‑check multiple sources and timeframes, and distinguish between listings and verified sold prices.

Identify the exact card

Set, number, artwork/variant, language, and edition markers

Pull recent sold comps

Grade condition (raw) or compare graded spreads

NM/LP/MP/HP/DMG for raw; PSA 9/10 for graded

Adjust for variant differences

English vs. Japanese, promo vs. pack, reverse holo vs. holo vs. non‑holo

Use a price range (not a single number)

Markets move; a band reflects real‑world variability

Considering grading?

As of 2025, the Pikachu Illustrator (PSA 10) holds the record at $5,275,000 from a 2022 private sale.

Yes. Trophy cards or unique promos with documented provenance could set new highs, especially in top grades with strong demand.

Some modern alt‑arts and SARs are highly desirable, but true record prices usually require extreme scarcity and historic significance that modern cards rarely match in the near term.

Prefer verified sold results from reputable auction houses or corroborated private sales. Avoid using listings/asking prices as “value.”

Use the Price Checker to review sold comps and historical trends for your exact card and variant.