Overview
- Goldin’s roughly 42‑day auction closed after hours of extended bidding during a livestreamed finale, where a Guinness World Records adjudicator confirmed the record.
- The winning bidder was A. J. Scaramucci, with the lot including Paul’s diamond‑encrusted necklace and his pledge to hand‑deliver the card.
- The Pikachu Illustrator was awarded for a 1998 CoroCoro Comic contest, with about 39–41 believed to exist, and Paul’s copy is the only one graded PSA Gem Mint 10.
- Paul originally acquired the card in July 2021 for $5.275 million, and media estimates suggest he netted more than $8 million in profit after fees.
- Ahead of the sale, Paul said he had repurchased a previously sold 5.4% fractional stake via Liquid Marketplace and made user withdrawals available, addressing ownership clarity.