Since its release in 1998, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) has remained one of the leading TCGs, with millions of players in the US. Therefore, there’s a huge demand for the most valuable Pokémon cards.
Our research found that the 1998 Pokémon Illustrator Pikachu PSA 10 card, which sold for $16.492 million, is the most expensive in history. In fact, multiple copies of the same collectible, in different grades, have sold for more than a million dollars. Read on to discover the full list of cards and their recorded prices.
Without wasting time, below are the top 10 most expensive Pokémon trading cards on record:
| Card | Price |
|---|---|
| 1998 Pikachu Illustrator, PSA 10 | $16,492,000 |
| 1996 Ivy Pikachu, Glossy Marketing Variation, CGC 8.5 | $3,300,000 |
| 2004 Torchic Gold Star, EX Team Rocket Returns, PSA 10 | $2,700,000 |
| 1998 Bronze Trophy Pikachu No. 3 Trainer, PSA 10 | $1,769,000 |
| 1996 Japanese Base Set No Rarity Charizard, PSA 10 | $1,700,000 |
| 1996 Ivy Pikachu, Glossy Incorrect Illustrator, CGC Gem Mint 10 | $1,300,000 |
| 2005 Rayquaza Gold Star, EX Deoxys, CGC Pristine 10 | $1,020,000 |
| 1999 1st Edition Base Set Charizard, PSA 10 | $954,800 |
| 1998 Kangaskhan Parent/Child Trophy, CGC Pristine 10 | $640,507 |
| 1999 Prerelease Raichu, PSA 6 | $550,000 |
This 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card is a Guinness World Record holder. It became the most expensive in history when it was sold by Logan Paul for $16.492 million at Goldin Auctions in February 2026.
Logan Paul previously bought the same physical PSA 10 for $5.275 million in July 2021. Other copies have sold for significant amounts as well, including a PSA 9 for $1.4 million in March 2026, and another PSA 9 for $1.275 million in June 2021.
We’ve seen several collectors asking why the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator is so valuable. Well, it’s an extremely rare card initially awarded to winners of illustration contests in Japan in 1998. Only 39 copies exist.
Such early cards are always expensive, not just for Pokémon, but also for sports. For example, one of the most valuable baseball cards (Baltimore News Babe Ruth, SGC 3, sold for $7.2 million) was issued in 1914.
From the name, it’s clear that this card dates back to 1996, not long before the Japanese Base Set was officially released. Our research confirmed that a CGC 8.5 copy sold for $3.3 million in a private sale in August 2026. That made it the highest-priced CGC-certified card at the time.
Here’s a collectible from EX Team Rocket Returns, one of the first Pokémon sets to introduce Gold Star cards. Based on our findings, PSA reported that the card was rare to find in top condition. As such, it’s no surprise that this copy ranks among the most valuable trading cards. It broke the all-time sales record for an English-language Pokémon card when it sold in 2026.
This is the second 1998 Pokémon card on our list, and it was originally awarded at Japanese Pokémon tournaments that year. Hence, the Bronze represents third place. In a Goldin Auction in May 2025, someone bought the PSA 10 collectible for $1,769,000.
On March 3, 2026, there was a reported sale of a PSA 10 copy of the 1996 No Rarity Charizard card. We confirmed the news on Collectr. The No Rarity tag comes from the missing rarity symbol in the bottom-right corner of the card.
There’s a funny story behind this card. It was distributed with the October 1996 issue of CoroCoro Comic, but incorrectly credits Ken Sugimori as the artist instead of Keiji Kinebuchi, the real illustrator. That error is one reason it’s highly sought after, and a CGC Gem Mint 10 version sold for $1.3 million in August 2026.
According to CGC, the 2005 Rayquaza Gold Star that sold for $1.02 million in August 2026 was the only Pristine 10 version recorded by any third-party grading company at the time. Someone bought it in a Fanatics Collect Premier Auction. It reminded us of one of the most valuable football cards, a 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes that sold for $1.08 million — just $60,000 more.
Now, we’re no longer in the million-dollar territory. A 1st Edition Base Set Charizard card was reportedly sold at Goldin Auctions in February 2026. Specifically, the sale was from a Logan Paul box break, which was the primary reason behind the high price.
Winners of Japan’s 1998 Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament (parents and children competing as teams) were awarded this card. In our opinion, the unusual tournament concept contributed to the high value of the collectibles. There are not many copies, and the most expensive one, which sold for $640,507, received a CGC Pristine 10 grade.
Many collectors say this is one of the most mysterious Pokémon cards ever printed, and we agree. That’s because the item has a PRERELEASE stamp that wasn’t supposed to show on Raichu. A PSA 6 copy was purchased at Heritage Auctions in September 2025.
It’s not easy to find the most expensive Pokémon cards, like the Pikachu Illustrator selling for nearly $16.5 million. The truth is that such collectibles are extremely rare, and we’re not referring to just Pokémon. Getting your hands on the most valuable sports cards or other TCGs like One Piece and Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is also difficult.
Anyway, you can still try your chances with these sources:
For us, the most convenient way is to rip Pokémon cards online on digital mystery pack platforms. You can do that via a website or mobile app. The platforms feature Pokémon packs with different price points and content, so you can browse to find one with premium items. Plus, you can usually confirm the odds of a particular pull before paying.
Chasing valuable Pokémon collectibles has its upsides and downsides, including:
Getting a rare trading card that can be sold for thousands or millions of dollars is the dream of any Pokémon collector. If you get one, you may choose not to sell and simply keep it for what it represents.
As we highlighted, one drawback of going after expensive Pokémon trading cards is the risk of getting a counterfeit. That’s why it’s important to only use sources with verified PSA and CGC-graded collectibles. Among them are legit digital mystery pack sites.
On the banners on this page, you’ll see the digital mystery pack platforms with Pokémon cards we recommended. Choose one, and click on the link to visit the website.
The most expensive Pokémon card in the world is the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator, PSA 10. It sold for $16.492 million in 2026.
Several Pokémon cards cost $1,000,000 or more. The collectible on record that sold close to that exact amount is a 2005 Rayquaza Gold Star, EX Deoxys, CGC Pristine 10, purchased for $1,020,000.
Early Pokémon cards issued between 1996 and 1999 are among the most valuable, especially Pikachu Illustrator, Gold Star, and rare error cards. Obtaining such cards can be worth it.
