Rare Pokémon card expected to sell for $10 million coming to Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A single Pokémon card that could fetch more than $10 million at auction will be at the Georgia World Congress Center on Feb. 7.

The “PSA 10 Illustrator Pikachu” is the only card of its kind in the world. YouTuber Logan Paul purchased the card in 2022 for $5.3 million, and it is expected to fetch more than $10 million at auction.

Cards-HQ Pokémon expert Leighton Folger thinks the card will sell for even more.

“I think it’ll end up at ($12 million),” Folger said.

It’s currently being auctioned by Goldin Auctions by Ken Goldin, the host of King of Collectibles on Netflix.

The Pokémon card market has experienced explosive growth in recent years. CardsHQ, which sold mostly sports cards two years ago, has shifted its focus.

“Pokémon has overtaken sports cards in the last two years, which is wild,” said Geoff Wilson, owner of CardsHQ.

Wilson said his store has expanded to meet demand.

“Just to account for demand, we’ve had to add showcase after showcase after showcase,” Wilson said. “These are new, these are new, these are new.”

According to analytics firm Card Ladder, Pokémon cards have returned roughly 3,800% since 2004, outperforming the S&P 500’s 483% return over the same period.

Folger compared the cards to precious metals.

“It’s like gold,” he said. “It’s finite. There are only so many cards out there, and then there is another level to it.”

The rarity contributes to high values for top-graded cards.

“Getting a ten out of some cards is nearly impossible,” Folger said.

The “Illustrator 10 Pikachu” is just that. Folger said it’s one of 50 cards produced and is in the best condition of any.

The skyrocketing values have created problems for card retailers. Numerous stores across the country have suffered break-ins in recent months, including one in Calhoun.

Despite security concerns, the market continues to grow. People travel from across the country to buy and sell cards at CardsHQ, where employees work to price collections.

Folger said customers become invested in the hobby quickly.

“Once they get a taste of it, they’re kinda hooked,” he said.

Folger believes the market has not reached its peak.

“It just doesn’t matter,” he said. “The market consumes it no matter what.”