The Confusion about the Goldfish which is sold at 1.8 Million Dollars

When it comes to the “most expensive goldfish,” the story quickly becomes confusing — because, strictly speaking, there’s no well-documented instance of a goldfish (Carassius auratus) selling for millions of dollars in the way some reports claim. Much of the information floating around is actually about koi carp, which are related to goldfish but are a completely different species. Here's a deeper dive into what’s going on.

The Myth of the $1.8 Million Goldfish

Many sources online claim that the most expensive goldfish was sold at auction for $1.8 million, naming it “Goldie.” 

However, if you dig into reputable news outlets, auction records, and scientific / breeding literature, there’s no credible proof that a goldfish (in the classic pet-store sense) has ever fetched that kind of money.

What Actually Sold for $1.8 Million: A Koi Carp

The fish that did sell for $1.8 million is not a goldfish — it’s a Kōhaku koi carp named S Legend. 

This record-setting koi was bred by Sakai Fish Farm in Japan and was sold in 2018. 

What makes S Legend so valuable? Several factors:

• It won Grand Champion at the All-Japan Koi Show. 
• Its bloodline and pedigree are elite, cultivated by generations of breeders. 
• Its coloration is pristine: the iconic red-and-white “Kōhaku” pattern is highly prized. 
• Its size is notable: reportedly 3 ft 3 in long (~101 cm), which is very large for a show-quality koi. 

Despite being sold for a massive sum, part of the value comes from its potential for breeding: a koi like this can produce hundreds of thousands of eggs, but only a small percentage might turn out to be “show-quality” fry. 

Why the Confusion Happens

Goldfish vs. Koi Carp

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) and koi (Cyprinus carpio) are related, but they’re different species. 

Koi are often much larger, bred for coloration and pattern, and are treated as display/collectible pond fish — not just simple pets.

Misinformation Spreads Easily

Because koi look like really fancy goldfish to casual observers, it’s easy for stories about expensive koi to be mistakenly reported as “goldfish.”

Some less rigorous sites perpetuate the “$1.8 million goldfish” claim without fact-checking. 

Record-Keeping and Verification

In the koi world, auction sales are well documented (especially for top-tier fish). But for goldfish, there’s no comparable record of a single pet goldfish commanding tens of thousands — let alone millions.

So, What Is the Most Expensive Actual Goldfish?

According to goldfish-keeping and aquaculture sources, even very rare or show-quality goldfish usually sell for hundreds to a few thousands of dollars, not millions. 

For example, the PangoVet list of “Top 10 Most Expensive Goldfish” includes varieties like the Giant Thai Lionchu or Tosakin, but their top prices are in the low hundreds according to The Vet Desk.

This doesn’t mean expensive goldfish don’t exist — they absolutely do — but the mythical “million-dollar goldfish” is likely just that: a myth.

Why People Are Fascinated

Collectibility: Just like in the world of exotic pets, there’s a collector mindset with fancy fish. Breeders compete for show-quality traits.

Art and Legacy: For koi especially, each fish can be a kind of living artwork, with color patterns judged similarly to how people judge fine art or pedigreed animals. 

Investment Potential: High-end koi can be seen as investments — not just as pets — because their offspring might also be valuable, or because owning a trophy koi is a status symbol.

In Summary

The oft-cited “$1.8 million goldfish” is almost certainly incorrect — the fish in question was a koi, not a goldfish.

The true record-holder is S Legend, a Kōhaku koi carp, sold at auction for $1.8 million. 

While fancy goldfish can be valuable, their prices don’t reach anywhere near the multi-million-dollar level — at least, not in verified public records.

Cheerio!