Who Wants To Be A Billionaire?
Expensive items can draw a lot of envy, but also befuddlement. Just how much bidders were willing to drop on some of the items in this list will blow your mind!
Oppenheimer Blue Diamond
Although not related to the famed physicist in any way, this blue diamond sold for a whopping $57.6 million at an auction in 2016. We’re guessing that the diamond isn’t appearing publicly any time soon due to its value.
Rarest vivid blue diamond goes on auction in Geneva, On Demand News
“Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures)” By David Hockney
This painting by the famed artist had a troubled history of being destroyed and then recreated by its maker in the early 1970s. Perhaps this is the reason it went for almost $100 million at a 2019 auction.
Hockney’s ‘Portrait of an Artist’ sells for $90M | Money Talks, TRT World
“Rabbit” By Jeff Koons
The famed Jeff Koons proves that sculpture remains a very viable corner of the art world. Case in point is this work which went for $91 million at a 2019 auction.
Jeff Koons 'Rabbit' sculpture goes for $91.1 million, Breakfast Television
“Man Pointing” By Alberto Giacometti
In 2015, a record was broken for the highest price achieved by an artwork at an auction. The piece in question was this bronze sculpture by Italian artist Giacometti, which went for $141 million.
Meenween, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Gigayacht
You can guess there’s some debate surrounding the idea of if eBay can be considered an actual “auction house”, but that’s the platform which this ultra tricked-out yacht was sold on. Would you feel comfortable committing to dropping $168 million over the internet, though?
Drozdin Vladimir, Shutterstock
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta
The most a car has ever sold for at an auction was $48 million–that was for this vintage Italian model. The exclusivity helped, as Ferrari only made 39 GTO models.
Full Auction of the $48M 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (Monterey Car Week), Society of Supercars
“Portrait Of Marilyn Monroe” By Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol’s art still divides people, but it will always go through phases of being “in”. For example, this portrait by him of the most famous movie star of all time went for almost $200 million at a 2022 auction.
“Salvator Mundi” By Leonardo Da Vinci
This Da Vinci painting went for almost half a billion in 2017 thanks to a bid by Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. However, there’s some speculation that the one sold wasn’t even authentic, which would possibly make it the biggest dupe of all time if so.
Leonardo da Vinci, Wikimedia Commons
Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr President” Dress
A certain point in post-World War II America was best exemplified by Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday, Mr President” to John F Kennedy. That’s why the dress Monroe wore during it is the highest a piece of clothing has ever gone for at an auction, hitting $4.8 million.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Hammer
Maybe Da Vinci knew he’d have a dedicated fan base, and that’s why he documented so much of his work and thoughts, including this manuscript referred to as the Codex Hammer. Bill Gates himself bought the object for $30.8 million at an auction and subsequently made a digital version available for the general public.
Leonardo da Vinci, Wikimedia Commons
“Nude, Green Leaves And Bust” By Pablo Picasso
Jonathan Richman may have a song about him being a real a-hole, but Pablo Picasso’s art still holds an astronomical value on the market. If you need proof, look no further than this work that went for a whopping $106.5 million in 2010.
Pablo Picasso's 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust' | 2010 World Auction Record, Christie's
Guarneri Del Gesù Violin
An instrument can carry with it so much history, you might be afraid to pick it up for fear of breaking. That didn’t prevent this violin from going for a rate of almost $4 million in 2007, setting a record for instruments.
I, Lucarelli, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tresses From Elvis Presley
Elvis’ barber was, frankly, very smart to hang on to his locks of hair after a cut. At a 2002 auction, pieces of Elvis’ follicles went for over $100,000.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
“Artemis And The Stag”
Age certainly helps in gaining value, like this sculpture which was unearthed after 2,000 years in the 1920s. Gaining even more value 80 years later, it went for $28.6 million at a 2007 auction.
Ana Carina Lauriano ╰★╮, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
The second Ferrari car on this list, we can deduce that they made some particularly aesthetically striking vehicles. Even amidst the belt-tightening of the recession, this model went for $12.2 million at a May 2009 auction.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Badminton Cabinet
Don’t think of badminton the game, but rather Badminton the city in England. This fancy cabinet, which was formed in the city of that name, stunned when it went for $36 million in 2004.
18th century cabinet sells for record breaking price, AP Archive
Wittelsbach Diamond
Having been passed down from both Spanish and Bavarian royalty, this diamond naturally was going to accumulate a lot of prestige. The prestige amounted to $23.4 million at a 2008 auction.
350z33, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mark McGwire's 70th Home Run Baseball
The summer of 1998 was a big one for baseball, as sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa competed to break the home run record. The former won out, and comic book artist Todd McFarlane bought the ball McGwire hit to break the record for $3 million the following year.
Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona
Maybe you think of his roles in Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler, or maybe your mind jumps to his grinning face on a bottle of salad dressing. Regardless, the legend of Paul Newman led to this Rolex watch from his collection going for $17.8 million.
Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Game 6 Jersey
The Chicago Bulls’ victory at the 1998 NBA finals was a bittersweet one, as it marked the final game for them under the Michael Jordan-led dynasty. Going for $10 million at an auction, we think this jersey is probably worth more than any of his Washington Wizards gear.
Final 4:39 Of Michael Jordan’s LAST BULLS GAME vs Jazz - 1998 NBA Finals, NBA
Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps Baseball Card
One of the most famous baseball players of the 1950s and 60s, Mickey Mantle has gone down in history as *the* New York Yankee. That’s why his 1952 rookie year baseball card went for $12.6 million.
New Jersey brothers find 5 "holy grail" Mickey Mantle baseball cards, CBS Mornings
Diego Maradona's “Hand Of God” Jersey
“The Hand of God” was a notorious soccer move by Argentinian player Diego Maradona where he didn’t use his foot to score the winning play in the 1986 World Cup. Immortalized in soccer history, the jersey he wore during it sold for almost $10 million in 2022.
Honus Wagner T206 Baseball Card
Perhaps Ken Burns’ documentary Baseball got you interested in the history of America’s pastime. It would explain why a card for this early 20th-century slugger went for $7.25 million.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Kurt Cobain's "MTV Unplugged" Guitar
The legend of Nirvana is well embodied in their MTV Unplugged special from the fall of 1993. Hence Kurt Cobain’s guitar going for $6 million at an auction in 2020.
Babe Ruth's 1928-1930 Jersey
One of the most iconic baseball players of all time, you can understand die-hards of the sport wanting to own a nearly hundred-year-old jersey. One was even willing to drop $5.64 million in 2019 for it.
Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series jersey sells for $24.12M at auction, CBS New York
“Jimson Weed/White Flower No 1” By Georgia O’Keeffe
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe had a history of selling paintings for grand sums, but everyone was shocked by just how high this 1932 piece went for. At a 2014 auction, it saw a whopping $44.4 million bid.
Alfred Stieglitz, Wikimedia Commons
“Les Femmes D’Alger (Version ‘O’)” By Pablo Picasso
One of two Picasso appearances on this list, you can probably gather that the guy was popular. This highly impressive work scored an eye-popping bid of $179.3 million at a 2015 auction.
Pablo Picasso's 'Les femmes d'Alger (Version 'O')' | 2015 World Auction Record, Christie's
“Nu Couche” By Amedeo Modigliani
Erotic art might upset people, but many still see the market value. A Chinese billionaire saw that and picked up this work for $170.4 million in late 2015.
Amedeo Modigliani's 'Nu couché' | 2015 World Auction Record, Christie's
CTF Pink Star
Luckily this pink beauty mined in Africa was not a blood diamond. Though, going for $71.2 million, there were still some likely nefarious forces behind it.
'Pink Star' diamond set to fetch record price in Hong Kong, AFP News Agency
Marie Antoinette’s Pendant
“Let them eat cake!” is what the buyer of this was probably bellowing after purchase. After all, having $36 million to drop on it, they could probably afford quite a few pastries.
Marie Antoinette jewels to be auctioned, AP Archive
The Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar
This item is admittedly quite striking looking for what’s, well, a piece of change. Struck in 1774, this silver dollar went for $10 million at a 2013 auction.
United States Mint, Smithsonian Institution, Wikimedia Commons
British Guiana One Cent Magenta Stamp
Perhaps our image of the stamp collector is either extremely old or, frankly speaking, kind of a dork. Yet with someone willing to drop almost $10 million on this vintage British stamp in 2014, friends of that hobby come in high places.
Joseph Baum and William Dallas printers for local postmaster, E.T.E. Dalton, Wikimedia Commons
Marilyn Monroe’s “Subway Dress”
Classic film star Marilyn Monroe has been making a considerable number of appearances on this list. Her dress worn in the iconic subway scene from the 50s comedy The Seven Year Itch was another piece of her memorabilia that struck gold, going for $5.5 million in 2011.
Andreas Gursky’s Rhine II
A photograph, like a painting, has to be strongly preserved to last in good condition for decades. While relatively young, having been taken in 1999, we’ll see how well Rhine II lasts after being bought for $4.3 million.
🇬🇧 Andreas Gursky retrospective opens at London's Hayward Gallery, Al Jazeera English
Soviet Vostok 3KA-2 Space Capsule
The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union is maybe a faded memory of the empire's past, but a particularly meaningful relic of it still went for a considerable sum. This space capsule—in which the first dog that was sent into space resided—went for almost $3 million in 2011.
HPH., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1945 Romanée Conti
The term “aged like a fine wine” exists for many reasons. With this bottle dating back to 1945, it’s probably going to taste pretty dang rich, which is why it went for over $500,000.
Rare, pricey, Burgundy up for auction in HK, AP Archive
Original Poster For Dracula
Movie posters are a fine thing to frame on the wall, but what about one from a film’s original theatrical run in the 1930s? That is why this poster for the Bela Lugosi-starring Dracula went for over $500,000.
Dracula Poster Goes Under The Hammer, Peter Cushing Appreciation Society
Qing Dynasty Vase From Pinner
Everyone loves a beautiful vase, though to the tune of $69.5 million? That’s what this Chinese artifact went for in late 2010.
A Chinese famille-verte rouleau vase, Qing Dynasty, Strauss & Co
“Portrait Of Dr Gachet” By Vincent Van Gogh
There seems to always be a Van Gogh retrospective at an art gallery. Judging by how much his stuff goes for at auctions, chiefly $82.5 million, you can understand why.
Vincent van Gogh, Wikimedia Commons
Clark Sickle Leaf Carpet
Some see rugs as things to rub your feet on, others as some of the most complex artwork in the world. The bidder who dropped $33.8 million on this Persian carpet certainly felt the latter.
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The Clark Sickle Leaf Carpet!|Sold For $33.7 Million!|, Luxe Punk
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