The painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci that depicts Jesus Christ, titled Salvator Mundi, sold for a record-breaking $450.3 million in November 2017. This makes it the most expensive painting ever sold at public auction.
The painting was sold at auction for US$450.3 million on 15 November 2017 by Christie's in New York to Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud, setting a new record for the most expensive painting ever sold at public auction.
The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known painting insurance valuation in history at US$100 million in 1962, equivalent to $1 billion as of 2023.
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?), a 1892 oil on canvas by French artist Paul Gauguin, was reportedly sold for a record $300 million.
The painting that sold for $450.3 million in 2017 is Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, setting a world record at Christie's auction in New York for the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. The heavily restored work depicts Christ as the Savior of the World, holding a crystal orb, and was purchased by an intermediary for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Most scholars believe that da Vinci was a homosexual due to his penchant for surrounding himself with young men, though some believe he was bisexual. Sigmund Freud even published an essay in 1910 that came to the conclusion that he was gay, but sublimated all his sexual urges into art and research.
The record payment for a work is approximately US $450.3 million (which includes commission) for the work Salvator Mundi ( c. 1500) generally considered to be by Leonardo da Vinci, though this is disputed.
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci | $1 billion
The Mona Lisa remains the most coveted piece for Western art. The Renaissance masterpiece isn't up for sale and experts have valued the painting at more than 1 billion dollars, taking into account the unrivalled importance in both historical and cultural context.
Jeff Koons – Richest Living Sculptor
A true contemporary master of pop art, Jeff Koons net worth in 2023 is well over $500 million.
A painting by Belgian Surrealist artist René Magritte, titled L'empire des lumières (The Empire of Light) from 1954, sold for a record-breaking $121.16 million at Christie's in New York in November 2024, setting a new world auction record for the artist and for a Surrealist work. The painting, known for its uncanny depiction of a dark, nighttime street under a bright daytime sky, surpassed its $95 million estimate after a nearly 10-minute bidding war, becoming the first Magritte to sell for over $100 million.
Painting is the art of applying paint, pigment, or color to a surface (like canvas, wood, or paper) to create images, express ideas, or decorate, using tools like brushes to form shapes, lines, and textures that convey emotion, narrative, or abstraction, and the term also refers to the final artwork itself. It can be purely artistic expression, capturing feelings, or serve a practical purpose like protecting a wall.
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is widely considered the world's #1 most famous painting, renowned for its enigmatic smile, mysterious subject, and artistic mastery (sfumato), drawing massive crowds to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and making it the most recognized artwork globally.
When Leonardo died in 1519, he had a bank fortune in Florence of 400 florins (1.5kg of gold). That is strikingly little, if this sum is held against the annual incomes of Leonardo. Because already in his Milan time he received according to traditional statement an annual wage of 2000 Florin (7kg gold).
Leonardo da Vinci's total output in painting is rather small; there are fewer than 20 surviving paintings that can be definitely attributed to him. These include the Mona Lisa (c. 1503–19) and the Last Supper (1495–98). Several of his paintings are unfinished.
Vincent van Gogh's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 1 USD to 117,180,000 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork.
Yes, Kim Kardashian is generally considered richer than Taylor Swift, though both are billionaires, with Kardashian often leading due to her successful businesses like SKIMS, while Swift's wealth comes from music, tours (like The Eras Tour), and films. Recent reports (late 2025) place Kardashian's net worth around $1.9 billion, slightly ahead of Swift's $1.6 billion, though these figures fluctuate.
Leonardo da Vinci
His most recognised paintings, 'The Last Supper' painted in 1498 and 'Mona Lisa' painted in 1503 are considered some of the world's most famous paintings.
The 3rd richest rapper varies slightly by source and date, but generally, after Jay-Z and often Kanye West or Dr. Dre, Sean "Diddy" Combs is consistently listed as the third wealthiest, with fortunes ranging from around $400-$600 million, driven by music, Bad Boy Records, Ciroc Vodka, and other ventures, despite recent legal challenges affecting his standing.
1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi remains the world's most expensive painting ever sold. This Renaissance marvel, depicting Jesus Christ holding a crystal orb, symbolizes divine vision and human brilliance.
The $450 million painting, Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, was bought in 2017 by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, though the purchase was made through an intermediary, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, acting as a proxy for the Kingdom. It became the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction, intended for the Louvre Abu Dhabi but its current location remains unknown, according to reports.
It was this interest that inspired his most famous invention – the flying machine. Though the first actual helicopter wasn't built until the 1940s, it is believed that Leonardo da Vinci's sketches from the late fifteenth century detailed a predecessor to the modern-day flying machine.
Generally, larger works command higher prices due to the increased material costs, the effort involved, and the visual impact they have in a space. For instance, Jackson Pollock's “Number 17A” was sold for $200 million partly due to its expansive size, which is emblematic of his iconic drip paintings.
For example, one of the most famous Van Gogh paintings, Starry Night, or Pablo Picasso's highly sought Les Demoiselles d'Avignon could easily sell for between $500 million and $1 billion each.