The 10 most expensive paintings sold around the world (2024)

The most expensive paintings in the world

While some works of art are priceless, others have been sold with an astronomical price tag. The most expensive painting ever sold is the Salvator Mundi, the Saviour of the World in English, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. It was painted in the 1500s and sold for $450.3 million in 2017. The painting was acquired by Mohamed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Despite its price, the painting has never been exhibited.

All these sales have occurred in the last 20 years and prove, according to ViewsFrance on Instagram, that the art market has exploded since the beginning of the 21^st century. French masters such as Paul Gauguin and Paul Cézanne rub shoulders with Pablo Picasso of Spain, Italian Amedeo Modigliani and Dutch Willem de Kooning in the list of paintings. Andy Warhol’s famous painting Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, is the fifth most expensive painting sold in the world.

Here are the 10 most expensive paintings sold around the world

1. Salvator Mundi, Leonardo da Vinci : $450.3 million
2. When Will You Marry?, Paul Gauguin (1892) : $300 million
3. Interchange, Willem de Kooning (1955) : $300 million
4. The Card Players, Paul Cézanne (1890-1895) : $274 million
5. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, Andy Warhol (1964) : $195 million
6. Les Femmes d’Alger, Paul Picasso (1955) : $179.4 million
7. Nu couché, Amedeo Modigliani (1917) : $170.4 million
8. Woman III, Willem de Kooning : $158.8 million
9. Nu couché, Amedeo Modigliani (1917) : $157.2 million
10. Le Rêve, Pablo Picasso (1932) : $155 million