The Most Expensive Paintings in the World– 2025

Art astonishes patrons with its distinctiveness, but price tags that ascend to the hundreds of millions can leave them even more stunned. A select few art pieces in the world have exceeded every record across private galleries, luxury auction halls, and royal collections.

These curated paintings have made it to the front page of headlines and altered the perception of praiseworthy art.
This guide dives deep into the rare works by the finest artists in the world. What sets these paintings apart in the world is their staggering prices and captivating stories behind the canvases.

Most Expensive Paintings in the World – 2025

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 in the world are more than just a mere blend of paints; they are luxury items and artful manifestations that reflect the intersection of art, history, prestige, and money. Far beyond the canvas, these masterpieces hide a story of both past and present.

From Salvator Mundi’s unprecedented sales value to awe-inspiring works by Gauguin and Kooning, the world is packed with monumental works of art. The prices of the world’s most expensive paintings continue to fluctuate with the shift of collectors and the evolution of the market.