What is the most expensive koi fish ever sold?

The most expensive koi fish ever sold is S Legend, a female Kohaku (red and white) koi bred by Sakai Fish Farm in Japan. She was sold at auction in Hiroshima in October 2018 for ¥203,000,000 — approximately $1.8 million USD / £1.4 million GBP / ₱100 million PHP. The buyer was Dr. Tomoharu Aoki, a prominent Japanese koi breeder.

How much does a koi fish cost?

Koi fish prices range enormously depending on quality, breed, and source. Common pet-store koi cost $10–$50 USD. Mid-grade koi from specialist breeders cost $100–$500. Show-quality koi from reputable breeders cost $500–$5,000+. Top Japanese nishikigoi from elite bloodlines range from $10,000 to hundreds of thousands. The world record is $1.8 million for S Legend. In the Philippines, koi typically range from ₱500 to ₱50,000+ depending on size and quality.

Who bought the $1.8 million koi fish?

The $1.8 million koi fish (S Legend) was purchased by Dr. Tomoharu Aoki, a prominent Japanese koi breeder and collector. She was sold at the Sakai Fish Farm auction in Hiroshima, Japan in October 2018.

What type of koi is the most expensive?

Kohaku koi — white body with red markings — are consistently the most expensive variety at the elite level. S Legend, the world record holder at $1.8 million, was a Kohaku. Gosanke varieties (Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa) dominate top auction prices. The quality of the specific fish — its pattern symmetry, skin quality, body shape, and bloodline — matters far more than variety alone.

What is the rarest koi fish?

Ki Utsuri (yellow and black koi) are among the rarest varieties, with very few high-quality specimens available. Ginrin metallic koi with perfect shimmer and Doitsu (scaleless) versions of premium varieties are also rare. The Yamabuki Ogon with a perfectly uniform metallic gold finish and zero blemishes is considered one of the rarest to find in top show quality.

How much is koi fish in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, koi fish prices range from ₱500–₱2,000 for small common varieties, ₱2,000–₱10,000 for mid-grade koi, and ₱10,000–₱50,000+ for quality Japanese-bred specimens. Show-grade imports can cost significantly more. Giobel Koi Center in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur offers koi starting from ₱1,500.

What makes a koi fish valuable?

The key factors that determine a koi fish's value are: body conformation (torpedo shape, no deformities), skin quality (pure white base, intense red hi), pattern balance and symmetry, color intensity and clarity, size for age, breed and bloodline (Sakai Farm, Dainichi, and other elite breeders command premiums), and overall presence or 'showa' — the Japanese term for a koi's visual impact at a distance.

Are expensive koi fish a good investment?

Top-quality koi from elite Japanese breeders can appreciate significantly in value, particularly Gosanke varieties (Kohaku, Sanke, Showa) with championship pedigree. However, koi are living animals that require expert care, specialized facilities, and significant ongoing expense. Most collectors keep koi for the passion, not primarily as financial investments. The koi market is also niche and illiquid compared to traditional investment assets.

Most Expensive Koi Fish in the World: Top 10 Record Prices (2026)

Top 10 Most Expensive Koi Fish Ever Sold

These are the confirmed top 10 record-breaking koi fish sales, with prices converted to USD, GBP, and PHP for US, UK, and Filipino audiences.

S Legend

Kohaku · Sakai Fish Farm

💵 $1,800,000 💷 £1,400,000 ₱ ₱100,000,000

Year sold: October 2018
Location: Sakai Fish Farm auction, Hiroshima, Japan
Buyer: Dr. Tomoharu Aoki
Why so valuable: Near-perfect Kohaku pattern, exceptional skin quality, large size, elite Sakai bloodline
Fate: Tragically died shortly after purchase, reportedly due to transport stress

Ginrin Karin

Showa Sanshoku (Ginrin) · Japan

💵 $341,990 💷 £269,000 ₱ ₱19,000,000

Year sold: 2019
Why so valuable: Rare Ginrin metallic shimmer combined with Showa tri-color pattern — an extremely unusual combination at this quality level

Kagemusha

Showa Sanshoku · Japan

💵 $260,000 💷 £204,000 ₱ ₱14,500,000

Year sold: 2018
Size: Over 80cm (31 inches)
Why so valuable: Bold, balanced black and red markings on a large body — power and elegance in perfect proportion

Yamabuki Ogon

Doitsu Goshiki · Japan

💵 $160,000 💷 £126,000 ₱ ₱8,900,000

Year sold: 2012
Why so valuable: Metallic gold scales with white and black contrasts — a living ember effect that few Doitsu Goshiki achieve

Kin Matsuba

Doitsu Harakujaku · Japan

💵 $150,000 💷 £118,000 ₱ ₱8,400,000

Year sold: 2018
Why so valuable: Intricate pattern resembling a delicate pine branch dusted with gold flakes — rare Doitsu scaleless variety

Kumonryu Dragon Koi

Kumonryu · Japan

💵 $150,000 💷 £118,000 ₱ ₱8,400,000

Year sold: 2014
Why so valuable: Platinum scales with flowing red markings resembling a Japanese dragon — Kumonryu are also famous for changing color throughout their lives

Hana Arashi

Doitsu Utsuri · Japan

💵 $130,000 💷 £102,000 ₱ ₱7,250,000

Year sold: 2013
Why so valuable: Red and black swirling pattern on metallic Doitsu scales — the “Flower Storm” nickname captures its visual drama

Yakisoba

Kohaku · Japan

💵 $120,000 💷 £94,500 ₱ ₱6,700,000

Year sold: 2017
Why so valuable: Intricate swirling orange and white Kohaku markings — named after the Japanese noodle dish for its winding pattern

Kichigoi

Kohaku · Japan

💵 $110,000 💷 £86,500 ₱ ₱6,150,000

Year sold: 2016
Why so valuable: Flawless snow-white skin with vibrant, intense red hi markings — the name means “lucky koi” in Japanese

#10

Yamato

Showa Sanshoku · Japan

💵 $100,000 💷 £78,700 ₱ ₱5,600,000

Year sold: 2019
Size: Over 80cm (31 inches)
Why so valuable: Bold black, white, and red Showa markings on an impressively large body — “Yamato” means “warrior spirit” in Japanese

Quality tier	USD	GBP	PHP	Description
Pet store / common	$5–$50	£4–£40	₱300–₱2,800	Mass-produced, basic color, no pedigree
Hobbyist grade	$50–$300	£40–£235	₱2,800–₱17,000	Good color, decent pattern, local breeder
Quality / select	$300–$1,500	£235–£1,180	₱17,000–₱84,000	Strong pattern, reputable breeder, show potential
Show grade	$1,500–$10,000	£1,180–£7,870	₱84,000–₱560,000	Championship potential, Japanese bloodline
Champion / elite	$10,000–$100,000	£7,870–£78,700	₱560,000–₱5.6M	Show winners, elite Japanese breeders
World record tier	$100,000–$1.8M	£78,700–£1.4M	₱5.6M–₱100M	S Legend level — near-perfect specimens

Source	Price range (PHP)	Price range (USD)
Pet shop (common koi)	₱300–₱1,500	$5–$26
Local farm (mid-grade)	₱1,500–₱8,000	$26–$141
Quality local breeder	₱8,000–₱30,000	$141–$529
Japanese import (select)	₱30,000–₱100,000	$529–$1,764
Japanese import (show grade)	₱100,000–₱500,000+	$1,764–$8,820+
Giobel Koi Center	From ₱1,500	From $26

Most Expensive Koi Fish in the World: Top 10 Record Prices

Most Expensive Koi Fish in the World: Top 10 Record Prices

Most Expensive Koi Fish — Key Facts

Top 10 Most Expensive Koi Fish Ever Sold

S Legend — The $1.8 Million Koi

What Makes a Koi Fish Valuable?

Koi Fish Price Guide by Quality

Koi Fish Prices in the Philippines

Frequently Asked Questions

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