The Most Valuable Pokémon Card Ever!

I don’t recall my children playing much Pokémon when they were kids. I DO remember them watching Digimon on FOX Kids! in the afternoons. I do know some of my kids played later in life but the game was out there in my realm of Things I Knew About But Didn’t Care About.

Recently Private Black Spartan (formerly PIT #1) and her Better Half decided to introduce my Science Officer (Grandchild #1) to the game. She enjoys playing the game with her parents. When we went to visit in April, I was informed by my Science Officer that I WOULD be learning to play Pokémon with her. This Grandpa would never turn down an invitation like that. Much to wife’s amusement, I have jumped headlong into the Pokémon hobby.

I play online with my grandkids. I play at my FLGS. And I play online with random strangers. I have my collection of cards sorted into card protectors and three ring binders.

All this is but a prologue explaining why a blog that focusses on D&D, Wizard101, and the Roku Screensaver would care about the Most Valuable Pokémon Card Ever!

According to Google and the Guinness Book of World Records, the most valuable Pokémon card is…

The absolute most valuable Pokémon card is the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator (specifically a flawless PSA 10 copy), which holds the Guinness World Record after selling for $16.492 million at a Goldin Auction. These ultra-rare, vintage promotional items and trophy cards consistently dominate the high-end trading card market.

The top-tier market is ruled by super-low population vintage cards graded Gem Mint (PSA 10) by authenticated grading services like PSA.

• Value: Up to $16,492,000
• Why it’s valuable: Widely considered the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon. Awarded to winners of a CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan, it is highly scarce with only about 39 copies known, and only one authenticated at the perfect PSA 10 grade.

I’m writing this to inform Guinness and the rest of the world, they are in fact wrong. The Most Valuable Pokemon Card Ever is… Drumroll…

I can hear the howls of outrage now. HOW can this Fennekin card be The Most Valuable Pokémon Card Ever? Dex lists it at $4.32 (as of 7/13/2026). eBay has listings from $4 – $35. These figures are well short of $16.5 million.

This is all true. But it’s not just ANY Fennekin Mega Evolution Promo that makes it valuable. It’s this one. My own personal copy is one-of-a-kind and is currently valued at just over $1,000,000,000 US American Dollars (value authenticated by Nevets the Alien, Stev the Vulcan, and Pryce Waterhose. Nevets rejected my suggestion of priceless.)

Why is it so valuable?

The above photo of my grandkids playing was taken just before a browsing couple at the gaming store were inspired by the fun my grandkids were having and delved into the hobby for the first time. The couple got two of this card and gifted one to my grandkids.

Rather than fighting over which child the gift was for (they are cousins not siblings), they decided to give it to Grandpa. It means a lot especially given Fennekin’s power of “Call for Family” That means even more to me. When you see what my grandkids did to make this a unique one-of-a-kind Pokémon card, you’ll understand.

Actually they signed the back of the protective sleeve when Son-in-Law (Grandkid #1’s Dad) had an aneurysm at the mere suggestion of grandchildren signing the actual card.

Is it for sale? No! (But I will listen to serious offers near its declared value)

Is it the Most Valuable Pokémon Card Ever? Absolutely!

all Pokémon imagery is © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK