10 Most Expensive Paintings In The World 2025

Art isn’t just about beauty—it’s also a high-stakes investment. Over the years, several paintings have fetched staggering prices, making headlines and breaking auction records. These artworks, often created by legendary painters, represent not only cultural and historical value but also a booming global art market where billionaires compete for ownership.

Here’s a look at the most expensive paintings ever sold, publicly or privately, and the stories behind their sky-high valuations.

Most Expensive Paintings In The World 2025

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci – $450.3 Million

Sold at Christie’s in 2017, Salvator Mundi became the most expensive painting ever sold. Believed to be painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1500, the artwork depicts Jesus Christ holding a crystal orb. After disappearing for centuries, it resurfaced in the early 2000s and was restored and authenticated.

The painting was sold to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to various reports, although officially the buyer was never confirmed. Despite debates over its authenticity, the sale price smashed all previous records.

Interchange by Willem de Kooning – $300 Million

Abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning’s Interchange was sold in a private deal in 2015 for around $300 million. The buyer was hedge fund billionaire Kenneth C Griffin, who purchased the piece from the David Geffen Foundation. The painting is known for its vivid colours and intense brushwork and is considered one of de Kooning’s finest works.

The Card Players by Paul Cézanne – $250 Million

The Card Players is part of a five-piece series painted by French Post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne in the 1890s. One version was reportedly purchased in 2011 by Qatar’s royal family for over $250 million, making it one of the most expensive artworks ever sold at the time. This quiet, contemplative painting is highly valued for its historical significance in the transition from 19th-century realism to modern art.

Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) by Paul Gauguin – $210 Million

Paul Gauguin’s 1892 masterpiece was sold in a private sale in 2015 for nearly $210 million. The painting, which features two Tahitian women, is celebrated for its bold use of colour and symbolism. The buyer was reportedly a museum in Qatar, adding another big-ticket acquisition to the country’s growing art collection.

Number 17A by Jackson Pollock – $200 Million

This 1948 drip painting by American artist Jackson Pollock was part of a $500 million art deal in 2016, which also included Interchange by de Kooning. The abstract work, known for its chaotic, layered paint splatters, marked a turning point in American art history. Kenneth Griffin also purchased this piece and loaned it to the Art Institute of Chicago.

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No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) by Mark Rothko – $186 Million

Sold in a private deal in 2014, this minimalist piece by Mark Rothko stunned the art world with its $186 million price tag. Rothko’s use of large blocks of colour to evoke emotion is central to his work, and this particular painting has become one of his most iconic and expensive.

Woman III by Willem de Kooning – $137.5 Million

This 1953 painting, known for its bold, distorted female form, was sold in 2006 for $137.5 million to billionaire Steven A. Cohen. Woman III is part of de Kooning’s series of female portraits and was once part of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art before it changed hands in a private sale.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt – $135 Million

Also known as The Woman in Gold, this glittering portrait by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt was sold in 2006 to businessman Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galerie in New York. The painting had been seized by the Nazis during World War II and was only returned to the rightful heirs after a lengthy legal battle.

Three Studies of Lucian Freud by Francis Bacon – $142.4 Million

Sold at auction in 2013 at Christie’s, this triptych became one of the most expensive artworks ever auctioned. Francis Bacon painted the series in 1969, portraying fellow artist Lucian Freud in a raw, unsettling style. The buyer was Elaine Wynn, co-founder of Wynn Resorts.

Untitled by Jean-Michel Basquiat – $110.5 Million

In 2017, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa purchased this 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat at Sotheby’s. The bold, skull-like image is a symbol of Basquiat’s intense exploration of race, identity, and culture. It became the most expensive work by an American artist ever sold at auction at the time.

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Image Courtesy: Freepik