The reality show Pawn Stars may have missed out on a Pokemon card that YouTube celebrity Logan Paul purchased for $150,000. On the other hand, the team at Pawn Stars may have dodged a bullet, as around the same time, Paul committed a related prank that could have killed him.
Logan Paul is controversial and some fans feel that he doesn't respect cultural traditions or people. Paul's saving grace is that he donates to charity. He got into purchasing valuable Pokemon trading cards in 2020. Meanwhile, the Pawn Stars' Pokemon episode aired in 2019. In that episode, he met collector Gary as he showed off his array of Pokemon cards. Pawn Stars cast member Rick Harrison didn't know what a Charizard was or how to pronounce Pokemon. He even laughed at the idea that the card might be valuable. He said that he thought it was a game for eight-year-olds and was shocked when Gary asked for $500,000. The stars had to bring out an expert. According to the video on YouTube, it seems that the collection was worth $500,000 at that time, As of 2021, it's estimated to be worth $5 million, which is ten times the price. Gary has the moniker "The Pokemon King" because he is devoted to collecting these cards and preserving them in mint condition. People noted the coincidence of him sharing a name with protagonist Ash's rival in the 1990s English dub of the anime.
Paul posted the claim to YouTube on October 14, 2020. He showed himself at the location where Gary the Pokemon dealer would meet him after flying to Las Vegas. They did a bit of negotiating, and ultimately, Paul did not get the card that he wanted. Instead, he negotiated for a PSA 10 1st edition Charizard and offered to pay for it right there, in cash. Gary accepted, complete with the appropriate emotional music. There are only 100 Charizard cards of this type, according to Dexerto. Gary seems to be corroborating the story, saying that selling the card was the "happiest and saddest moment of my life." He also drops a bombshell, which was that he wasn't actually willing to sell his collection on Pawn Stars. Instead, Gary went in front of the cameras to show off his clout. So, negotiations related to purchasing any of them would have proved futile. See Logan's claim clip below:
Pawn Star fans should take the video with a grain of salt. Paul is known for being a prankster who is deceptive. He allegedly edits videos to create hype. Near the same time, he ended up in the hospital due to a Pokemon card prank that went wrong. Even though sources provide differing dates, it seems that the timeline goes this way: Paul posted a video on Instagram on October 13 that he had been duped about receiving a sticker instead of a Pikachu Illustrator Card. He punched a window and ended up going to the hospital. On October 14, Paul posted the video about going to Las Vegas to meet Gary and negotiate with him for a rare Charizard card.
The outlet Dexerto investigated the prank. Paul posted a video on Instagram that showed him punching a window after "finding out" the card was a sticker. They said that Paul hit a window after punching through it, and the shards of glass severely lacerated his hands. It was alleged that he nearly bled to death. He needed to get nine stitches and posted the aftermath. Skeptics think that Paul risked his life for a few views because that is in line with his previous infamous behavior.
The claim of purchasing the 1st Edition Charizard seems to be genuine since Gary confirmed that he did appear on Pawn Stars and the video is in the archives for the show. Pokemon cards can retail for large amounts, but many interested parties remain skeptical. Pawn Stars couldn't catch 'em all, but Rick Harrison may have had fun trying.