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The most expensive item ever bought

We look at some of the most outrageously priced items bought at auction in recent years and what they ended up selling for.

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10 of the most expensive items bought at auction

You need a lot of money to buy one of these items in an auction. Source: Adobe Stock.

Some people like spending money on things that will make them look good, like clothes or cars. The most expensive item ever bought costs millions!

But some people take their spending to another level and spend their money on things that most people would never even consider buying.

Some people might think that money can’t buy happiness. But those same people have never been to an auction.

Because at an auction, you can buy some of the world’s most expensive and sought-after items. 

From rare artworks and jewelry to cars and yachts, here are 10 of the most expensive items sold at auction.

The most unique and sought-after items in the world

You need a lot of money and luck to get a good deal in an auction. Source: Adobe Stock.

We’ve all heard of someone spending a small fortune on an item they just had to have. But what’s the most expensive thing ever bought?

Surprisingly, it’s not a fancy car or a huge mansion – it’s something much more unique. Read on to find out what it is!

10. Badminton Cabinet

Thirty artisans created this one-of-a-kind piece of furniture over six years, built entirely in Italy. It is a wooden cabinet with intricate inlays and detailed carving.

The Cabinet sells for a whopping 36.6 million dollars.

9. Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 by Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1” is one of the most iconic and expensive paintings ever sold. 

The painting fetched a record-breaking price of $44 million at a Christie’s auction in New York in 2014, making it the most expensive work by a female artist ever sold. 

8. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is a work of art. It’s the most expensive car ever sold at auction. It was built in April 1962, and it’s been making hearts race ever since. 

As of 2021, this car is worth a staggering $48.4 million. That’s a lot of money, but it’s worth every penny. Undoubtedly, this car is a true masterpiece, and it’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

7. Oppenheimer Blue Diamond

It was sold at an auction in Geneva in 2016 for $57.5 million, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction. 

The stone was originally cut from a much larger diamond known as the Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa in 1905. 

The Oppenheimer Blue is named after its former owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a renowned jeweler and gemologist. 

6. Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney

The painting depicts two figures swimming in a pool, surrounded by an idyllic landscape. 

The work was painted in 1971 and is considered one of Hockney’s best works. 

In 2018, the painting sold for a record-breaking $90 million at a Christie’s auction. The price tag is not surprising, given the painting’s iconic status and place in art history.

5. Rabbit by Jeff Koons

When Jeff Koons’s “Rabbit” sold for over $91 million at Christie’s in New York, it set a new record for the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction. 

But it also sparked a heated debate about the value of contemporary art. Some people argue that Koons’s work is little more than kitsch, while others see it as a clever and provocative commentary on consumer culture. 

Whether you love or hate it, there’s no denying that “Rabbit” is one of the most talked-about works of art in recent memory. 

4. Giacometti’s Pointing Man

can you buy one of these items? Source: Adobe Stock.

In 2017, Giacometti’s Pointing Man sold for a record $141 million at Christie’s auction in New York. The life-size bronze sculpture depicts a thin, emaciated figure with one arm raised in the air as if pointing to something in the distance. 

Giacometti is best known for his Surrealist sculptures, which distort the human form in bizarre and unsettling ways. 

Pointing Man is one of his most iconic works, and its staggering sale price reflects the high esteem in which the art world holds it.

3. The Gigayacht

We all know that one person loves spending money on lavish things. For some, it’s a new car every year. But for Roman Abramovich, it’s a Giga yacht.

That’s right. The Russian billionaire recently bought a Giga yacht during an online auction on eBay for a whopping $168 million. The ship, reportedly the largest in the world, has two helipads, a swimming pool, and a luxurious interior.

2. Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso

In 2015, Pablo Picasso’s “Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O)” sold at auction for a record-breaking $179 million.

The painting, which depicts a harem of women in Algerian dress, is one of the most iconic works by the Spanish artist. 

While the piece is undoubtedly valuable, its high price tag is also because it is one of only a handful of paintings by Picasso that remains in private hands. Given its rarity, it’s no wonder that “Les Femmes d’Alger” was able to fetch such a high price at auction.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi

In 2017, Salvator Mundi, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, sold for $450 million at Christie’s in New York. The painting, which depicts Jesus Christ holding a crystal orb in his right hand, is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. 

Before its sale, the painting was owned by several private collectors and was believed to be lost for centuries. The painting’s reemergence and subsequent sale have generated great interest in the artist and his work. 

Da Vinci is one of the greatest artists of all time, and Salvator Mundi is a rare example of his work.

So there you have it – the most expensive thing ever bought. It’s not something the average person would purchase but to each own!

In our next post, we’ll look at some of the world’s most expensive cars. Stay tuned!

black sport car highway drive sunset

Most expensive cars in the world 

If you like luxury and high-speed, check this list of the most expensive cars in the world. You'll dream about having one of them.

About the author  /  Vinicius Barbosa

Vinicius Barbosa is a writer of finance-related content on this portal. Graduated in Social Communication, he writes about everything that involves the world of finances, from credit card recommendations to investment tips, for readers who want to make better decisions when it comes time to spend their money or invest wisely.

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