NewStats: 3,261,907 , 8,175,506 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 11:55 PM d1o6d

Auctions have long been full of dram, from furious bidding wars to ridiculous prices, astronomical sums of money and the finality of the thud of the auctioneer’s hammer have captured the imagination of the public for decades.

Below are some of the world's most expensive stuffs ever sold/purchased at auction.



https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/15-most-expensive-things-ever-sold-at-auction-544883.html

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, $450.3 million (₦191.6B)


Leonardo da Vinci's “Salvator Mundi” was bought for the astronomical sum of $450 million by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman in New York in 2017, smashing the world record for the most expensive art work ever sold.

Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso - $179.4 million (₦76.4B)


The Women of Algiers by Pablo Picasso was the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction for $179 million in New York in 2015.

Record was broken by Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi in 2017.

The Gigayacht - $168 million (₦71.5B)


Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought this 405-foot megayacht designed by naval architect Frank Mulder during the online auction on eBay.

Giacometti’s Pointing Man - $141.3 million (₦60.2B)



“Pointing Man” or “L’homme au doigt”, a life-sized sculpture of a thin man pointing in typical Giacometti style was sold $141 million at Christie’s auction in New York in 2017.

The same auction where Pablo Picasso's art Les Femmes d'Alger was sold.

The sculpture created by the Swiss artist in just one night.

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" sold for $120 million in 2012 (₦51.1B)



When it was sold in 2012 at a Sotheby's auction, "The Scream" set a record for being one of the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction, according to Reuters.

The pastel painting was originally estimated to have a selling price of about $80 million, but after a 15-minute bidding war, the final price was $120 million.

Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection sold for $116 million at an auction in 2011(₦49.4B).


The Hollywood icon's collection of jewels included a La Peregrina natural pearl necklace, among several other items.

The proceeds from the sale benefited the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation.

Claude Monet's "Meules" was sold for $110.7 million in 2019 (₦47.1B)


"Meules," which comes from the impressionist artist's "Haystacks" collection, sold at a Sotheby's auction in May 2019.

A sculpture, "Chariot," by Alberto Giacometti, sold at a Sotheby's auction for $101 million in 2014 (₦42.9B).



"Chariot," made by Swedish sculptor Alberto Giacometti, is regarded as a transformative piece of art from the 20th century, according to Sotheby's.

It was constructed between 1951 and 1952 and was sold at an Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Sotheby's in New York.

Rabbit by Jeff Koons, $91.1 million (₦38.9B)



A sculpture made by the American plastic artist Jeff Koons was sold for 91.1 million dollars in 2019 during an auction organized by the house of Christie's in New York, a record for a living artist.

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney $90.3 million (₦38.5B)


British artist David Hockney had sured Jeff Koons in selling the world's most expensive artwork by a living artist. The achievement happened at a Christie auction in 2018.

Oppenheimer Blue Diamond - $57.5 million (₦27.5B)



Weighing 14.62 carats, the stone is characterized by a fancifully vivid colour, the highest and brightest possible for a blue shade.

It is one of the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction.

This gem is named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, whose family had run the famous De Beers diamond company for many years.

The blue diamond was sold for $57.5 million at an auction in Geneva in 2016.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta $48.4 million (₦20.6B)



It was built in April 1962 and is the most expensive car ever sold at auction, as of 2021.

It was crowned in the 1963 and 1964 editions of the mythical Targa Florio and was achieved with victory in the 1962 Italian GT Championship.

With just 36 units manufactured between 1962 and 1964, the 250 GTO has become a racetrack icon and collector's greatest desire, earning it the nickname “Holy Grail”.

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $48.4 million and set the record for the most expensive car at auction.

Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 by Georgia O’Keeffe - $44.4 million (₦18.9B)



The most expensive work ever sold at auction by a female artist in 2014 was a Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 by Georgia O’Keeffe.

It was sold for $44 million in New York.

Bton Cabinet - $36.6 million (₦15.6B)




30 artisans worked for 6 years to prepare this furniture. It was built in Italy and is currently housed in the Liechtenstein Museum. It was sold for $36,662,106 to Dr Johan Kraeftner, Director of the Lichtenstein Museum in Vienna.

Marie Antoinette’s Pendant - $36 million (₦15.3B)


A large drop-shaped pearl pendant, which belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette was the wife of King Louis XVI of , was sold for $36 million at auction in 2018.

The most expensive wrist watch ever auctioned was sold for $31 million (₦13.2B) in Switzerland, November 2019.

An 17th-century Stradivarius violin sold for $15.9 million (₦6.8B) at an online auction that benefited disaster relief following Japan's 2011 tsunami and earthquake.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester - $30 million (₦12.8B)

The notebook was written by its owner using a unique mirror writing technique, purchased by Bill Gates at the price of $30.8 million.

This way of writing backwards from right to left will force the reader to use a mirror when wanting to read it.

Many people believe that he did it to keep his research secret, but it is also possible that it was Leonardo da Vinci's own style.

Fauteuil Aux Dragons by Eileen Gray $28 million
Once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, and designed by Irish artis,t Eileen Gray, a 24 inches high unique chair known as a ‘dragon’s’ armchair.

It was sold for 28.3 million dollars, setting a world price record for a work of decorative and applied art of the 20th century.

Explorers:
The Gigayacht - $168 million
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought this 405-foot megayacht designed by naval architect Frank Mulder during the online auction on eBay.

Thank you for this educative piece.

Asides the gigayacht, for me every other piece there seem far too overpriced

The most expensive dress ever sold at auction was Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown, which sold for $4.8 million (₦2B)in 2016.



Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President Dress".

The famous dress was purchased by Ripley's at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in November 2016.

Monroe wore the iconic gown while performing for John F. Kennedy at a Democratic Party fundraiser event in May 1962.

A dress Kate Winslet wore in "Titanic" sold for $330,000 (₦140.5M) in 2012.

In the legendary film, Winslet wore the red-and-black dress when her character, Rose, first met Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) on the ship.




https://www.insider.com/most-expensive-items-sold-at-auction-in-the-past-decade-2019-11

Let me anchor my ship here

S

Money laundering

So, artwork dey expensive yacht for this auctioning business

People get money to throw around over there sha

iamyemiakins:
So, artwork dey expensive yacht for this auctioning business

People get money to throw around over there sha

Sometimes, i dont understand why people spend millions of $ on just rough drawings.

Explorers:


Sometimes, i dont understand why people spend millions of $ on just rough drawings.

Explorer on the beat. Bros I hail.
The paintings look awkward and shouldn't command such high amount. As for the jewellery I think it's a little overpriced.

Explorers:
The most expensive dress ever sold at auction was Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown, which sold for $4.8 million (₦2B)in 2016.



Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President Dress".

The famous dress was purchased by Ripley's at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in November 2016.

Monroe wore the iconic gown while performing for John F. Kennedy at a Democratic Party fundraiser event in May 1962.

I thought Kim Kardashian bought it until I found out that she actually borrowed it from the museum that bought it The Kardashians will do anything to gain attention