Gold Star Rayquaza sells for $1 million
A graded Gold Star Rayquaza Pokemon card sold for $1,020,000 on August 28, making it the first English-language card to surpass $1 million at auction.
A one-of-a-kind Gold Star Rayquaza Pokemon card has sold for $1,020,000. The sale on August 28 makes it the first English-language Pokemon card to surpass $1 million at auction, according to a report from Dexerto.
The 2005 Pokemon EX Deoxys Holo Rayquaza Gold Star #107 was sold through Fanatics Collect's August Premier Auction. After 35 bids, the final price including buyer's premium reached seven figures. Fanatics Collect called it potentially "the single greatest copy" of the card. It is the only copy to receive a CGC Pristine 10 grade, with the auction house stating no Pristine 10 examples appear in the BGS or TAG registries either.
Record-breaking sale
The $1,020,000 result surpassed the previous English-language Pokemon card record by $65,200. That record was held by a PSA Gem Mint 10 First Edition Base Set Charizard. According to Goldin, that card sold for $954,800 in February 2026 after being pulled during a box break involving Logan Paul and Ken Goldin.
The overall record for a Pokemon card remains much higher. Logan Paul's Japanese Pikachu Illustrator sold for $16.492 million earlier in 2026, setting the mark for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
Rarity and condition
Gold Star cards were introduced in 2004. They reportedly appeared at a rate of about one per every two booster boxes, or 72 packs. The cards feature shiny Pokemon with artwork that extends beyond the usual illustration window.
Finding a Gold Star Rayquaza in perfect condition is exceptionally difficult. CGC reported that EX Deoxys cards often suffered from factory edge wear. The company has graded more than 250 copies. Of those, only 12 received a Gem Mint 10 grade. Just one earned the higher Pristine 10 grade.
The value of a top-grade copy is clear. A Gem Mint 10 version of the same card sold for $168,000 on July 19. The Pristine 10 example fetched over six times that amount just over a month later.
A Reddit user claiming to be the seller described parting with the card as a "bitter sweet moment." They wrote that it was great to break the record, but sad to let go of such a centerpiece of their collection. For collectors tracking high-value items, checking the latest stats on major sales can provide crucial market context.
