The Most Expensive Items Sold at Auction in the Last Decade

Sold: 2017
Where: Christie’s, New York
Price: $450 million*

You don’t have to be an art fanatic to know that Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the masters. The famous painter is responsible for creating some of the most valuable works in the world, including this painting of Jesus Christ which is over 500 years old. 

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci /Wikimedia.org

The painting, known as Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World) went up for sale at Christie’s in New York back in 2017. As you might imagine, the bidding war was slightly more serious than an eBay scuffle and the painting was sold for a huge $450 million. 

Sold: 2019
Where: Christie’s, New York
Price: $91 million*

Jeff Koons created some fantastic pieces. Although it might not be to everyone’s taste, the stainless steel sculpture titled “Rabbit” certainly isn’t cheap. The sculpture sold for a whopping $91 million during an auction at Christie’s in New York in 2019. 

Jeff Koons 'Rabbit' @matthewrstradli / Pinterest.com

The sale brought in such a huge price that it made headlines. It also became the most expensive work by a living artist, which left many people scratching their heads. Koons first broke through for his balloon-animal sculptures in the ‘80s, but this would have arguably been a career highlight for him. 

Sold: 2018
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $32 million*

Marie Antoinette might have been a queen of France, but she’s just as famous for her lavish lifestyle as she is for her historical importance. In 2018, a very rare pearl that once belonged to Antoinette was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $32 million. 

Marie Antoinette's Pearl Pendant @YangonMediaGroup / Facebook.com

The hugely valuable pendent became the most expensive pearl ever sold. It’s not the kind of thing you pick up on a shopping trip to Target, but then again, even Tiffany’s would be hard-pushed to produce something of this caliber. The stunning item is now likely the prize jewel in a private collection. 

Sold: 2018
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $48.4 million*

There has always been a solid market for classic cars, especially when they are in great condition. Collectors will pay through the nose to get one in their garage, which often means spending millions. However, in 2018, one bidder really went to town. 

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO @CarWaffle / Twitter.com

A Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962 fetched an astronomical $48.4 million, which swiftly saw it become the most expensive car ever sold at an auction. While it’s not a beaten-up old Ford, it’s still difficult to imagine anything on four wheels justifying this amount of money. 

Sold: 2017
Where: Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
Price: $71.2 million*

They say diamonds are forever, but does that make them worth $71.2 million? In 2017, one ring became the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction when it was sold at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. Known as the Pink Star, the stunning 59.60-carat diamond was snapped up by jeweler Chow Tai Fook. 

The Pink Star Diamond @ABC / Twitter.com

It may be a beautiful oval-shaped wonder, but $71.2 million is a lot of money to splash out on anything, let alone something that small. Still, it was clearly worth it to the winning bidder. It’s not every day you see something this renowned goes under the gavel. 

Sold: 2019
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $110.7 million*

There is something about Claude Monet’s work that really captivates art critics and casual observers alike. That being said, there’s a huge difference between looking at one of Monet’s paintings in a gallery and actually owning one of them. For a start, a museum ticket may cost just $30. 

Meules by Claude Monet @matildamarseillaise / Twitter.com

In 2019, Monet’s Meules from his Haystacks series went up for sale at Sotheby’s. Plenty of millionaires were on hand to try and get the painting into their own collections, but the winner outdid them all by splashing out $110.7 million. The sale swiftly became a top piece of news on sites like Google.  

Sold: 2014
Where: Unknown
Price: $6.5 million*

Painting a portrait can take hours, days, or even months. On the other hand, taking a photograph is often instantaneous, bar setting up for the shot. That makes this $6.5million-dollar sale a pretty good return on investment for photographer Peter Lik. 

Peter Lik's Phantom @newscomauhq / Pinterest.com

Lik’s photo, Phantom, was sold at an auction in 2014 for a record-breaking $6.5 million, cementing its place as the most expensive photograph of all time. There’s no denying that the snap is very artsy and chic, but would you spend that much money for something you could potentially do yourself with the help of Kodak?

Sold: 2020
Where: Julien’s Auctions
Price: $6 million*

Legendary grunge icon Kurt Cobain may have only been on the planet for 27 years, but his legacy is ever-lasting. In 2020, the acoustic-electric guitar that Kurt played during Nirvana’s infamous MTV Unplugged set in 1993 went up for sale at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles. 

Kurt Cobain's "Unplugged" Guitar @gothicbaddie / Pinterest.com

The auction house expected it to be an exciting sale but never estimated that the guitar would sell for $6 million. It’s hardly surprising in retrospect, considering just how important that particular CBS MTV performance is to music fans. The lucky bidder was Rode Microphones founder Peter Freedman. 

Sold: 2014
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $9.5 million*

Some people may not understand it, but the stamp collecting business is booming. These tiny pieces of paper may not look like much to the untrained eye, but they can actually be worth millions. In 2014, a rare British Guiana 1856 1 Cent Magenta stamp went under the hammer at Sotheby’s. 

British Guiana 1856 1 Cent Magenta Stamp @amysharpton / Pinterest.com

No one was prepared for just how much money it would fetch. The lucky bidder was shoe designer Stuart Weitzman who happily paid out $9.5 million to get his hands on it. It’s an astonishing amount of money to pay out, but Weitzman clearly doesn’t play when it comes to collecting stamps. 

Sold: 2020
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $84.6 million*

Francis Bacon is right up there with the best of the best when it comes to artists, although his work might take a little more time to understand than the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci. In 2020, Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus was put up for sale at Sotheby’s. 

Francis Bacon's Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus (1981) @Francis Bacon / Pinterest.com

At the time, the art market wasn’t booming, but thanks to live streams at the expertise of the auction house, the paintings still sold for $84.6 million. The phone bidder may have spent a lot of money on acquiring the works, but considering just how one-of-a-kind they really are, it was worth every cent. 

Sold: 2021
Where: Sotheby’s
Price: $1.8 million*

It’s not just paintings and antiques that manage to fetch an extraordinary amount of money at auction. In fact, modern items of significance can be just as valuable. In 2021, a pair of prototype Nike Yeezy sneakers by Kanye West went up for sale. 

Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes @saint / Twitter.com

Original estimates thought that the Nike shoe would go for around $1 million, but the final sale price exceeded $1.8 million. West’s clothing line is one of the most popular in the world at the moment, so it’s hardly surprising that an avid fan would be willing to spend that much on an original item. 

Sold: 2019
Where: Christie’s
Price: $31 million*

We all know there’s a big market for jewelry, but did you know that watches are just as collectible? Rare ones can be sold for millions, as illustrated by this 2019 sale. This particular watch, made by Patek Philippe, sold for $31 million during a Christie’s auction. 

Patek Philippe Watch @AJBCSurveys / Twitter.com

Not only was it the most expensive watch of its kind to sell at auction, but all the proceeds went to charity, making this a very worthwhile sale. The flash timepiece even broke the record previously set by a Rolex once owned by Paul Newman that sold for $17.7 million in 2017. 

Sold: 2011
Where: Online auction
Price: $13.7 million*

Instruments that are rare are also very valuable, depending on who made it. In 2011, this violin made by Italian crafter Antonio Stradivari hit an online auction looking for a new owner, but what makes it so special? Known as the “Lady Blunt”, the instrument is one of just 600 violins made by Stradivari that still exists. 

The 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius Violin @bertramhogan / Pinterest.com

Stradivari is known as the best maker of premium violins the world has ever seen. What’s more, this particular model was gifted to Lord Byron’s granddaughter in 1721, giving it a much-needed boost of importance. The violin sold for $13.7 million. 

Sold: 2006
Where: eBay
Price: $168 million*

It’s not very often that you see items worth this much hit eBay. Usually, sellers entrust auction houses like Christie’s with the task as it’s just so expensive, but for some reason, the Gigayacht ended up on the online auction site back in 2006. 

The Gigayacht @luxurylaunches / Pinterest.com

The huge 450-foot long yacht had everything you could possibly want, from a movie theater to a professional kitchen and 18 guest rooms. The winning bid was $168 million. We dread to think what the seller fees were like on this eBay item, but then again, the seller could obviously afford it.