Top 10 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

Millions and Hundreds of Millions of dollars are spent every year by the wealthy seeking a highly sought after piece of art. Following is a list of the Top Ten Most Expensive Paintings of All Time and an explanation of what makes them so special and worth the exorbitant price.

10. Irises – 105.1$

Irises

Irises (1889) painted by Vincent van Gogh was sold by the son of Joan Whitney Payson to Alan Bond in 1987 for the price of $53.9M. The adjusted value is set at $105.1M.

9. Dora Maar au Chat – $106.1M

dora maar au chat pablo picasso

Dora Maar au Chat (1941) painted by Pablo Picasso was sold by the Gidwitz family to Boris Ivanishvili in 2006 for the price of $95.2M. The adjusted value is set at $106.1M.

8. Portrait of Joseph Roulin – $107M

portrait of joseph roulin vincent van gogh

Portrait of Joseph Roulin (1889) painted by Vincent van Gogh was sold by a private collector in Zurich to the Museum of Modern Art New York in 1989 for the price of $58M (plus exchange of artworks). The adjusted value is set at $107M.

7. Nude, Green Leaves and Bust – $110.2M

nude green leaves and bust

Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932) painted by Pablo Picasso was sold by the Frances Lasker Brody Estate to a private collector in 2010 for the price of $106.5M. The adjusted value is set at $110.2M.

6. Garçon à la pipe – $124.3M

garcon a la pipe

Garçon à la pipe (1905) painted by Pablo Picasso was sold by the Greentree Foundation to Guido Barilla in 2004 for the price of $104.2M. The adjusted value is set at $124.3M.

5. Bal du moulin de la Galette – $136.4M

pierre auguste renoir le moulin de la galette

Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876) painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir was sold by Betsey Whitney to Ryoei Saito in 1990 for the price of $78.1M. The adjusted value is set at $136.4M.

4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet – $144.1M

portrait of dr gachet van gogh

Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890) painted by Vincent van Gogh was sold by the Siegfried Kramarsky family to Ryoei Saito in 1990 for the price of $82.5M. The adjusted value is set at $144.1M.

3. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt ($135,000,000)

portrait of adele bloch bauer

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) painted by Gustav Klimt was sold by Maria Altmann to Ronald Lauder of the Neue Galerie in 2006 for the price of $135M. The adjusted value is set at $150.2M.

2. Woman III – $154.0M

Woman III

Woman III (1953) painted by Willem de Kooning was sold by David Geffen to Steven A. Cohen in 2006 for the price of $137.5M. The adjusted value is set at $154.0M.

1. No. 5 – $156.8M

No. 5

The most expensive panting is Woman III (1948) painted by Jackson Pollock was sold by David Geffen to a private collector in 2006 for the price of $140M. The adjusted value is set at $156.8M.