For decades, Pokémon fans have engaged in spirited battles with their trading cards. The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) continues to evolve, with its latest expansion released just weeks ago. However, the rise in the value of Pokémon cards has transformed them into a lucrative business, much to the dismay of longtime fans. Here’s a look at the ten most expensive Pokémon cards ever sold.
The Most Expensive Pokémon Cards
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many individuals to explore new hobbies, leading to a resurgence in interest for Pokémon cards, a popular and relatively accessible game. Unfortunately, this interest has attracted scalpers and speculators, turning a beloved pastime into a speculative market. Scalpers have inundated stores, eagerly buying up booster packs and other products, while wealthy collectors inflate prices, especially as NFTs and Web 3 technologies gain traction.
As a result, prices have skyrocketed while the availability of cards in stores dwindles, reminiscent of the past 15 years. It is not uncommon to see a queue of scalpers waiting eagerly for the launch of a new set, hoping to resell the cards from a children’s game at exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, the world’s rarest Pokémon cards have been sold at auction, showcasing iconic cards such as the Pikachu Illustrator and the Topsun Blue Back Charizard, to name a few. These post-pandemic sales have capitalized on inflated prices to maximize profits.
Even today, scalpers continue to target Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) and booster packs, but sales fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars have become increasingly rare. Regardless, your childhood collection might harbor a hidden treasure. To help you identify the gems, here are the ten most expensive Pokémon cards in history.
Test Print Blastoise Gold Borders (1998)
- Grade: CGC 6.5
- Sold in July 2021 (Heritage Auctions)
- Price: $216,000
Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Promo (2017)
- Grade: PSA 7 (Autograph PSA 9)
- Sold in April 2021 (Goldin Auctions)
- Price: $247,230
Snap Pikachu (1999)
- Grade: PSA Authentic
- Sold in June 2023 (private sale via YouTube)
- Price: $270,000
Trophy Pikachu No. 3 Trainer Bronze (1997)
- Grade: PSA 8
- Sold in April 2023 (Heritage Auctions)
- Price: $300,000
Japanese Charizard, Signed by Mitsuhiro Arita (1996)
- Grade: PSA 10
- Sold in April 2022 (PWCC)
- Price: $324,000
Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Holo (1998)
- Grade: CGC 8.5
- Sold in January 2021 (Heritage Auctions)
- Price: $360,000
First Edition Holographic Shadowless Charizard #4 (1999)
- Grade: PSA 10
- Sold in March 2022 (PWCC)
- Price: $420,000
Pikachu Trophy No. 2, Silver 2nd – 2nd Tournament (1998)
- Grade: PSA 10
- Sold in September 2023 (Goldin)
- Price: $440,000
Topsun Blue Back Charizard (1997)
- Grade: PSA 10
- Sold in January 2021 (Goldin)
- Price: $493,230
Pikachu Illustrator (1998)
- Grade: PSA 10
- Sold in March 2022 (private sale)
- Price: $5,275,000
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