Overview
- Paul announced a 9 p.m. ET YouTube stream for the closing sale and said he will open more than $1.5 million in other Pokémon boxes during the broadcast.
- Goldin’s listing showed bids at $5.1 million, or $6.324 million with buyer’s premium, ahead of a scheduled Sunday 10 p.m. ET close.
- The card’s PSA 10 grade—the only such example—was reconfirmed after it was reholdered in a new 2026 PSA case for preservation and anti‑counterfeiting features.
- Originally awarded to winners of a 1998 CoroCoro contest, the Pikachu Illustrator is widely regarded as one of the rarest Pokémon cards, with estimates of around 40 copies.
- Coverage diverges on value expectations, with some reports citing estimates above $12 million and reporting that Goldin reportedly advanced Paul $2.5 million to secure the consignment.