Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold

About This Dataset

This chart highlights the most expensive artworks ever sold, showcasing the astronomical prices collectors are willing to pay for iconic pieces. Leading the list is Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi,' which fetched an astounding $450.3 million in 2017. Other notable entries include Willem de Kooning's 'Interchange' at $300 million and Paul Cézanne's 'The Card Players' at $250 million.

✨ AI Insight

The disparity in sale prices among the top artworks is striking, with 'Salvator Mundi' commanding nearly double the price of 'Interchange.' This gap underscores the unique cultural and historical significance of certain pieces, particularly those linked to renowned artists like da Vinci. The surge in prices around 2015, with multiple artworks selling for over $200 million, suggests a peak in the art market's appetite for high-value investments. The recent sale of Andy Warhol's 'Shot Sage Blue Marilyn' for $195 million in 2022 indicates that while the market may fluctuate, the demand for iconic art remains robust, driven by both prestige and investment potential.

Source: Christie's

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Salvator Mundi leads with 450 in 2022.

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Average value in 2022: 195 · median: 195.

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2015 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.

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Gap in 2022: Salvator Mundi is 2.6× larger than Nu couché.

Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold

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Data Insights Below

Data Insights

Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart

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Data Points

8 categories · 4 years

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Top Value

450.30

Salvator Mundi

Sale Price (Million USD) · 2017

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Metrics

Sale Price (Million USD)

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Period

2011 – 2022

4 years of data

Rankings & Full Data

8 records · Sale Price (Million USD) · ranked by 2022

✓ 8 sourced

#	Category	2011	2015	2017	2022	Change
🥇	Salvator Mundi	—	—	450.30	—	—
🥈	Interchange	—	300	—	—	—
🥉	The Card Players	250	—	—	—	—
4	Nafea Faa Ipoipo	—	210	—	—	—
5	Number 17A	—	200	—	—	—
6	Shot Sage Blue Marilyn	—	—	—	195	—
7	Les Femmes d'Alger	—	179.40	—	—	—
8	Nu couché	—	170.40	—	—	—