The Most Expensive Paintings in the World – 2026

Art has always been a reflection of power, culture, and ambitions of humans. However, at its zenith, it becomes an emblem of immense financial value. Across centuries, a handful of paintings have eclipsed museums and galleries to enter the realm of global prestige and wealth.

These murals, crafted by legendary artists, have remodeled the basic purpose of creativity in the modern world. Elegance alone doesn’t demonstrate the record prices of these masterpieces, but curiosity, historical impact, and roots drive their values. Exploring the most expensive paintings ever sold attracts curious minds and collectors into the world where they acknowledge how the intersection of economics, legacy, and art can shape the commendable tier of the global art market.

Most Expensive Paintings in the World – 2026

Whether you’re a privileged collector, an art history enthusiast, or simply a curious person, hop onto the journey through the most expensive paintings in the world.

1. Salvator Mundi – Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1500)

• Sold Price: US$450.3 million

Salvator Mundi tops every list and is regarded not only as the best painting, but also the most expensive worldwide. Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the painting was sold for 450.3 million US dollars by Dmitry Rybolovlev.

The buyer is officially recorded as Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Al Saud, who bought the painting at Christie’s auction in New York in 2017. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman currently owns the painting and awaits to be displayed in a new art gallery under construction in Saudi Arabia.

2. Interchange – Willem de Kooning (1955)

• Sold Price: US$300 million

Interchange by Willem de Kooning has made its way among the most expensive paintings ever sold. The painting was sold in a private transaction at 300 million US dollars and changed hands from the David Geffen Foundation to the buyer Kenneth C. Griffin.

Interchange reflects unique Abstract Expressionism and stands as a benchmark among deep-pocketed collectors in the world. It embraces the loose brushwork and bold color contrasts by De Kooning, while the twirling of figurative references as the first modern art movement in the United States makes it both aesthetically impeccable and historically significant.

3. The Card Players – Paul Cezanne (c. 1892-93)

• Sold Price: US$250+ million

The Card Players holds the record for being the most famous painting sold privately. George Embiricos put this masterpiece on sale, which was instantly bought by the royal family of Qatar in 2011 at over 250 million US dollars.

Considered one of the rare and finest works by Cezanne, it carries the balanced composition of brushwork and thematic weight. The Card Players takes the central stage in art history and is appraised as a bridge between modernism and impressionism.

4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo? – Paul Gauguin (1892)

• Sold Price: US$210 million

Nafea Faa Ipoipo (Tahitian) translates into “When Will You Marry?” It is a giant masterwork by Paul Gauguin and the world’s most expensive painting, sold in a private sale. The royal family of Qatar is reportedly the current owner of this painting, after it was displayed for sale by Rudolf Staechelin's heirs in 2014.

Nafea Faa Ipoipo portrays an exotic subject matter and his passion towards Tahitian women. The unusual palettes and landscaped setting showcase Gauguin’s role in pushing European art towards primitivism.

5. Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans & Oopjen Coppit – Rembrandt (1634)

• Sold Price: US$180 million

Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans & Oopjen Coppit is yet another astonishing and valuable portrait by Rembrandt. Painted in 1634, this rare piece surpasses all records, with a staggering sales price of 180 million US dollars. The painting was transferred from Eric de Rothschild to the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre in a private sale carried out in 2016.

6. Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”) – Pablo Picasso (1955)

• Sold Price: US$179.4 million

At Christie’s in New York, this upscale painting was sold for 179.4 million US dollars. The painting was reportedly sold in a private collection to Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani in May 2015.

The painting is one of the last pieces from Picasso’s Delacroix series and pays homage to Henri Matisse. The series translates into the “Women of Algiers” and embraces orientation, color, distortion, and cubist deconstruction.

7. Three Studies of Lucien Freud – Francis Bacon (1969)

• Sold Price: US$142.4 million

Three Studies of Lucien Freud was painted in 1969 and was sold in 2013 to Elaine Wynn at Christie’s New York. The work reflects Bacon’s expressionist style, boasting emotionally troublesome, raw, and psychologically intense figures. This masterwork goes beyond just a visual piece and stands as a statement to artistic devotion and human frailty, where friendship, mentorship, and rivalry feed into valuation.

8. Nu Couche – Amedeo Modigliani (1917-18)

• Sold Price: US$170.4 million

Another notable piece, Nu Couche by Amedeo Modigliani, stands as the world’s most expensive painting ever sold. What elevates its aesthetic and emotional weight is Amedeo’s sensuous curves and elongated figures, making it one of the rare pieces in modern/20th-century art.

With a purchase price of around 170.4 million US dollars, the painting changed hands from the art collector Laura Mattioli Rossi to Liu Yiqian at Christie's in November 2015.

Other High-Value Paintings in the World

• Number 17A by Jackson Pollock: Painted in 1948, its deal was locked in September 2015 between the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth C. Griffin at approximately US$200 million.
• Wasserschlangen II by Gustav Klimt: The novel piece was completed between 1904 and 1907, and was sold at a staggering price of US$183.8 million in 2013. It tops the list as the most expensive painting ever sold in a private transaction, and is reportedly under the ownership of Dmitry Rybolovlev.
• The Standard Bearer by Rembrandt: Another remarkable and world’s most expensive painting was sold at 198 million US dollars by the Rijksmuseum. The purchase was carried out by the Rothschild family in 2022 in a private transaction.

Features Driving Sky-High Prices of Paintings: The Anatomy of Record Sales

The world’s most astounding paintings share premium sold prices due to several features:

1. Artistic & Historical Significance

Paintings that embody crucial moments (for instance, the transition between art movements), or those by artists with influential or iconic lifestyles, command higher prices.

2. Rarity & Provenance

Unique pieces or paintings from limited series attract elite collectors and historic estates, adding credibility to the chain of ownership.

3. Cultural Prestige & Narrative

The story of the painting holds equal significance to the painting. The world’s most expensive paintings either mirror long thought lost, carry revolutionary elements, or are bound to a colonial history. Such narratives enhance the paintings’ value and drive staggering prices in the market.

4. Authenticity, Condition, & Restoration

Paintings with well-supported attributions and in excellent condition add to the premium prices. Moreover, artworks restored to perfection attract prestigious collectors confidently; however, scandals over restoration can reduce value.

Closing In!

The most expensive paintings around the world transcend decorative appeal and are more rivaled for their financial confidence and cultural milestones. These pieces of canvas mirror the enduring influence of genius artists.

From Renaissance to modern masterpieces, each painting features record-sale setting stating the evolving priorities of institutions and collectors worldwide. While market dynamics continue to evolve in 2026, these paintings sustain their status as timeless assets. Their perseverance of cultural identity and history reinforces the art’s position as one of the most influential and enduring forms of global investment.