Recently, collecting and selling Pokémon cards has become increasingly popular. The rarest of Pokémon cards can now fetch hefty price tags, and in the last few years we have seen some of the highest bids for super-rare cards as collectors are becoming more and more fierce. The increase in bids on ultra-rare cards has also helped resuscitate people’s passion for new Pokémon cards. There are now more card sets to choose from than ever before, and the trading card game is as relevant as ever. If you’ve been collecting for a few years now, have you ever wondered how much some of your rare Pokémon cards are worth? Perhaps you are sitting on a goldmine and don’t know. Is that rare Charizard you have sitting in your nightstand worth any money? Today we are going to look at the top five most expensive Pokémon cards ever, so double-check your collection, just in case.
Kangaskhan-Holo #115 Family Event Trophy Card
This card depicts the Pokémon’s president, and in April 2021 it sold for just under $250,000 at an auction. Fetching $247,230 to be exact. The man featured in the image is Tsunekazu Ishihara, and this card was given to company employees in 2017 to mark his birthday. Nothing like giving yourself a pat on the back, eh? The card depicts the president throwing a master ball with the Pokémon Rotom right beside him. The specific card that went up for auction was also signed by the company president, making it extra rare.
Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram
Blastoise is one of the most popular Pokémon in the game, and now, one of the most expensive! This particular card was created by the original Pokémon publisher, Wizards of the Coast, in 1998, and it is one of two that are thought to be in existence. The card was originally produced as ‘presentation’ pieces to try and convince Nintendo Japan that Pokémon cards should be produced in English. The cards have a blank back and feature Blastoise on the front. The location of the other card is unknown, so there may only be one left. This rarity influenced the cost, and when it went to auction the card sold for $360,000.
First Edition Shadowless Charizard
One of the most popular and sought-after cards, the First Edition 1999 Shadowless Holographic Charizard, is one of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever sold. Charizard is a fan favorite anyway, but this particular card has recently fetched $420,000 at an auction in 2020. What makes this particular Charizard so rare is that there is no shadow underneath the dragon, which was a printing error back in 1999. The publishers quickly corrected this mistake, but a few had already made it to production. Now, the shadowless Charizard is one of the rarest cards on the market.
Pikachu Illustrator
Taking the top spot as the most expensive Pokémon card ever is the Pikachu Illustrator. Recently thrust into the public eye thanks to YouTuber, Logan Paul, as he wore a Pikachu Illustrator car around his neck whilst attending WrestleMania 2022. It was Logan Paul who eventually paid out a whopping $5.275 million for his Pikachu Illustrator by trading a PSA 9 version of the card, worth $1,275,000, and an additional $4 million, adding up to a whopping total of over $5 million. It is perhaps unlikely there will ever be a more expensive Pokémon card, but you never know! It may be worth double-checking what is hiding in your collection.
