What is the Most Expensive Painting Ever Sold? 8 Masterpieces & Their Price Tags

Have you ever wondered what it takes for a painting to break records and become one of the most expensive artworks in the world? 

Is it the artist’s name, the historical significance, or the emotions it evokes? 

In the case of the most expensive painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” the answer is a mix of these three, together with many more factors.

Art history is full of paintings that were valued so highly that they could exceed the GDPs of some small nations. Yes, some collectors are willing to pay crazy amounts of money just to own a masterpiece and set records with every sale.

In this article, we’ll overview the most expensive painting in the world and provide a list of 8 other artworks with the highest price tags.

Mona Lisa - The Most Expensive Painting in the World

If there’s one particular painting that artists regard as a definition of the value of art, it’s undoubtedly Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’. Perhaps not surprisingly, this masterpiece holds the Guinness World Record for the highest insurance valuation for a painting. 

Specifically, ‘The Mona Lisa’ or ‘La Gioconda’ is estimated to be worth over $1 billion today. Therefore, we can certainly say that it’s the most expensive artwork in the world in 2024. 

Da Vinci worked on ‘Mona Lisa’ between 1503 and 1519. The woman in this famous portrait is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant. The thing that makes this painting so renowned is her mysterious smile, as well as the realistic details of the painter’s technique. 

Today the painting attracts over 10 million visitors annually to the Louvre and it’s definitely a one-of-a-kind symbol of artistic excellence.

But here’s the thing:

Even though ‘Mona Lisa’ is the most expensive painting based on valuation, it has never been sold. As a result, instead of this artwork, you might encounter Leonardo’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ listed as the most expensive painting in the world. And yes, it indeed holds the crown when it comes to record-breaking auction sales.

Still, one thing is for sure: ‘Mona Lisa’s’ cultural and artistic value exceeds any monetary price. And that’s probably why it has never been sold, and chances are that it never will.

Top 8 Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold

We all know that art has always been a symbol of value, passion, and prestige. That’s why in modern society collectors are still willing to spend unimaginable amounts of money to finally make their dreams come true and own a piece of history, creativity, and cultural significance. 

The table below presents the top 8 artworks that broke records at auctions and private sales and received the status of the most expensive paintings ever sold. Below, we’ll shortly focus on their cultural value and artistic technique.

1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci

Price: $450.3 million (2017)

Owner: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia

There’s not a single artwork in the world that can compete with Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ up to now. This famous oil painting was created around 1500 and portrays Christ as the Savior of the World.

Da Vinci used his iconic sfumato technique to create contrast between light and shadow on the canvas. In 2017, the painting was sold to an anonymous buyer for as much as $450.3 million and made a new record. Only later, the New York Times reporter learned that the buyer was acting for a Saudi Arabia prince — Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud.

2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning

Price: $300 million (2015)

Owner: Kenneth C. Griffin

Did you know that Willem de Kooning is regarded as the “artist’s artist”? Well, that’s because of his skills to maintain emotional depth in abstract expressionism. ‘Interchange’, completed in 1955, is one of his most celebrated works and the second most expensive artwork on our list, which was sold to hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin for $300 million. 

Griffin has never talked about reasons for buying ‘Interchange’ publicly. However, he expressed his aspirations about donating $40 million to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2015:

“It is my hope that visitors, artists, and students from around the world will experience all that MoMA has to offer for generations to come." 

Griffin became the owner of the painting in 2015. Interestingly, ‘Interchange’ was first sold in 1955, shortly after Kooning completed the artwork, and its initial price was just $4000. 

Want to know what makes ‘Interchange’ stand out among Kooning’s other works?

The thing is that this oil on canvas painting was the first one in his career where Kooning moved from female forms to abstract urban landscapes.

3. The Card Players by Paul Cézanne

Price: $250 million (2011)

Owner: The Royal Family of Qatar

If you’re an art admirer, one glance at Paul Cézanne’s ‘The Card Players’ is enough to understand why it was sold for $250 million in 2011. This masterpiece, created in 1892–1893, portrays a rural scene: two peasants focused on a card game. 

Yes, at first glance, there’s nothing extraordinary about this scene. However, Cézanne’s unique brushwork technique and muted color palette are what made this oil painting so expensive. 

But here’s the deal: 

Cézanne’s painting doesn’t portray a simple card game. It reflects his approach to form and perspective. As a matter of fact, this artwork acted as a foundation for modern art movements like Cubism. 

Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Royal Family of Qatar considered it valuable enough to create history by getting it for $250 million.

4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gauguin

Price: $210 million (2015)

Owner: Qatar Museums

Speaking of Qatar, this small country owns another one of the most expensive paintings in the world. This time it’s ‘Nafea Faa Ipoipo?’ which translates from Tahitian as ‘When Will You Marry?’ The author of the painting is French Post-Impressionist and Symbolist painter Paul Gauguin, who created the artwork in 1892. Qatar Museums purchased it for an astonishing $210 million in 2015.

This post-impressionist masterpiece features two Tahitian women. Among them, one is sitting and the other is standing against a lush. Gauguin’s use of vivid, contrasting colors and symbolic elements reflects the exotic beauty of Tahitian culture.

5. Number 17A by Jackson Pollock

Price: $200 million (2016)

Owner: Kenneth C. Griffin

Jackson Pollock’s ‘Number 17A’ is indeed the greatest example of abstract expressionism — a popular painting style that changed the history of modern art in the mid-20th century. And guess what?

The owner of this painting is again Kenneth C. Griffin, who purchased it a year after becoming an owner of ‘Interchange’. 

Interestingly, art critic Harold Rosenberg once noted that for Pollock, “What was to go on the canvas was not a picture but an event. The artist's gesture on the canvas was a gesture of liberation from value—political, aesthetic, moral.”

Number 17A is a great example of this philosophy, as it presents a chaotic but mesmerizing explosion of color and movement.

6. The Standard-Bearer by Rembrandt

Price: $198 million (2021)

Owner: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

If you’ve ever been to Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, you’d probably recognize ‘The Standard-Bearer’. After all, this painting is one of Rembrandt’s most iconic works. Rembrandt painted this oil painting portrait in 1636. Even though it’s a portrait, it clearly shows the 17th-century Dutch Republic’s military pride and cultural identity.

But wait, there's more: 

The main subject of the painting, a standard bearer, is a symbol of strength and determination as it holds the flag. Rembrandt uses the technique of chiaroscuro to make the figure even more traumatic and add an emotional tone to the painting. 

Before Rijksmuseum would buy it for ​​$198 million, the artwork belonged to a private collection of the Rothschild family in France for over a century. 

7. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol

Price: $195 million (2022)

Owner: Larry Gagosian

This one has nothing to do with the previously listed oil paintings, except for the fact that it’s one of the most expensive artworks ever sold. Even if you know nothing about art, it’s likely that you’ve encountered this artwork at least once in your life. That’s because it has become a cultural phenomenon and inspired millions of people around the world with its bold colors and contrasts.

Andy Warhol created this Pop Art masterpiece in 1964. In 2022, this masterpiece set a new record as it was sold for $195 million at auction. The new owner is Larry Gagosian, a renowned art dealer, who acquired it.

What sets this particular piece apart?

Details such as sage blue background and Monroe’s golden hair, not to mention Warhol’s signature silkscreen technique.

8. No. 6 by Mark Rothko

Price: $186 million (2014)

Owner: Dmitry Rybolovlev

The final piece on our list is Mark Rothko’s No. 6 — Violet, Green, and Red. The painter created this iconic artwork in 1951 and used it as a means to communicate his feelings using abstract expressionism. 

Now you might be thinking: there’s nothing extraordinary or complicated about this painting.

But that’s only at first glance. And those who understand art know that Rothko’s genius lies in its simplicity. The thing is that he used color as a language to express emotions that words couldn’t capture. 

Most importantly, this simplicity didn’t stop Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian billionaire, from purchasing the painting for $186 million in 2014. Consequently, it has become one of the most expensive paintings ever created in the world.

The Future of Art Sales: Will Records Be Broken?

Let’s be honest: Art has always been about pushing boundaries. First of all, these boundaries apply to creativity, but it’s clear that they extend to value as well. 

Years go by and collectors, museums, and new-age buyers are redefining what makes a painting priceless. That’s why we can never be sure if another masterpiece will exceed ‘Salvator Mundi’s’ record-breaking $450.3 million and become the most expensive painting ever sold. Nor do we know if anybody will ever own ‘Mona Lisa’ that’s worth over one billion. 

Still, one thing is for sure —  the art industry has never been as dynamic and unpredictable as it is today.

And the best part?

You don’t need millions to create a masterpiece or preserve your memories on canvas. Whether you’re inspired by the works of da Vinci or Rothko, you can commission your very own custom painting that reflects your personal style and emotions.

Check out our custom painting services and create something truly timeless for your personalized collection!