The Record Book

The most expensive works ever sold at auction

This list is being verified. It shows the 35 works confirmed so far, highest price first. Works still being checked are not yet listed, so the order will change as they are added.

As of October 2026. Private sales are not included. Each work appears once, at its highest auction price. Prices include the buyer’s premium, in US dollars at the time of sale; sales before buyer’s premiums existed are hammer prices. Every price is confirmed by two independent sources, listed with the entry.

Under each price is the same amount in today’s money, using the US consumer price index (CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted) from the month of the sale to September 2026. If you see an error, please tell us through the corrections policy.

Download this list as a CSV file, with the sources for each price.

1. Les Femmes d'Alger (Version 'O')

   Pablo Picasso, 1955

   Christie's, New York, 11 May 2015

   Also sold: Christie's, 1997 ($31.9 million)

   Sources

   • ARTnews, Christie's nets 705.8m at Looking Forward sale
   • The Art Newspaper, 2 June 2015
   • The Art Newspaper, 12 May 2015
   • Forbes, 12 May 2015
   • Bloomberg, 12 May 2015

   $179.4M$179.4 million$254.1M$254.1 million today

2. Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version)

   Georges Seurat, 1888

   Christie's, New York, 9 November 2022

   Sources

   • The Art Newspaper, Paul Allen evening sale at Christie's, 10 November 2022
   • ARTnews, Seurat record at Christie's Paul Allen sale, 9 Nov 2022

   $149.2M$149.2 million$168.9M$168.9 million today

3. L'Homme au doigt

   Alberto Giacometti, 1947

   Christie's, New York, 11 May 2015

   Sources

   • The Art Newspaper, Manhattan sales set new highs, 2 June 2015
   • BBC News, Picasso painting sells for record 179m

   $141.3M$141.3 million$200.2M$200.2 million today

4. Femme à la montre

   Pablo Picasso, 1932

   Sotheby's, New York, 8 November 2023, lot 10

   Sources

   • Sotheby's New York sales results, November 2023
   • The Art Newspaper, 9 November 2023
   • Artnet News, November 2023

   $139.4M$139.4 million$153M$153 million today

5. Verger avec cyprès

   Vincent van Gogh, 1888

   Christie's, New York, 9 November 2022

   Sources

   • The Art Newspaper, 10 Nov 2022
   • Artsy, 10 most expensive artworks sold in 2022
   • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records

   $117.2M$117.2 million$132.6M$132.6 million today

6. Meules

   Claude Monet, 1890

   Sotheby's, New York, 14 May 2019, lot 8

   Sources

   • Sotheby's, Meules sells for $110.7 million
   • The Art Newspaper, 15 May 2019

   $110.7M$110.7 million$145.7M$145.7 million today

7. Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)

   Andy Warhol, 1963

   Sotheby's, New York, 13 November 2013, lot 16

   Sources

   • Sotheby's, Silver Car Crash leads seven records
   • CNBC, 14 Nov 2013
   • ARTnews, 2022 (Warhol record context)

   $105.4M$105.4 million$152.4M$152.4 million today

8. Femme assise près d'une fenêtre (Marie-Thérèse)

   Pablo Picasso, 1932

   Christie's, New York, 13 May 2021

   Sources

   • ARTnews, 13 May 2021
   • The Art Newspaper, 14 May 2021
   • Artnet News, May 2021
   • Artsy, Most expensive artworks sold in 2021

   $103.4M$103.4 million$129.4M$129.4 million today

9. No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)

   Mark Rothko, 1964

   Christie's, New York, 18 May 2026, lot 21A

   Sources

   • Christie's, 20th/21st Century New York auction results, May 2026
   • The Art Newspaper, 19 May 2026

   $98.4M$98.4 million$98.9M$98.9 million today

10. Blumenwiese (Blooming Meadow)

    Gustav Klimt, c. 1908

    Sotheby's, New York, 18 November 2025, lot 11

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Breuer results article, Nov 2025
    • Sotheby's, Lauder collection totals 527.5m
    • The Art Newspaper, 18 Nov 2025

    $86M$86 million$89.4M$89.4 million today

11. White Disaster [White Car Crash 19 Times]

    Andy Warhol, 1963

    Sotheby's, New York, 16 November 2022

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Esteemed Collections power $856.3M New York sales
    • The Art Newspaper, 17 Nov 2022
    • ARTnews, 16 Nov 2022

    $85.4M$85.4 million$96.7M$96.7 million today

12. Nymphéas en fleur

    Claude Monet, c. 1914–17

    Christie's, New York, 8 May 2018

    Sources

    • ARTnews, Monet Water Lilies from Rockefeller Collection, $84.7M
    • Artnet News, Christie's Rockefeller sale
    • The Art Newspaper, Rockefeller sale report
    • Sotheby's, Top 10 Monet auction results

    $84.7M$84.7 million$113.4M$113.4 million today

13. Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus

    Francis Bacon, 1981

    Sotheby's, New York, 29 June 2020

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Live Global Auction Event 363.2 million
    • Sotheby's, 7. Francis Bacon
    • Bloomberg, 30 Jun 2020

    $84.6M$84.6 million$110.5M$110.5 million today

14. No. 10

    Mark Rothko, 1958

    Christie's, New York, 13 May 2015, lot 35B

    Sources

    • Christie's lot page, No. 10
    • Artnet News, $81.9 Million Rothko Leads Christie's $658.5 Million Contemporary Art Sale
    • ARTnews, Christie's Brings in $658.5 M. at Contemporary Art Sale, With an $81.9 M. Rothko
    • The Art Newspaper, 14 May 2015

    $81.9M$81.9 million$116.1M$116.1 million today

15. Laboureur dans un champ

    Vincent van Gogh, 1889

    Christie's, New York, 13 November 2017, lot 28A

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, 14 Nov 2017
    • Bloomberg, 14 Nov 2017
    • ARTnews, Christie's Imp-Mod sale, 81.3 M. van Gogh
    • Christie's lot page

    $81.3M$81.3 million$111.1M$111.1 million today

16. Le Nez

    Alberto Giacometti, 1947

    Sotheby's, New York, 15 November 2021

    Sources

    • Sotheby's press release, New York white glove result for the Macklowe Collection, November 2021
    • The Art Newspaper, Sotheby's Macklowe auction, 16 November 2021
    • Artnet News, Justin Sun revealed as buyer of Giacometti Le Nez, 16 Nov 2021

    $78.4M$78.4 million$95M$95 million today

17. Le Parlement, soleil couchant

    Claude Monet, 1900–03

    Christie's, New York, 12 May 2022

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, Christie's evening sales 12 May 2022
    • Artnet News, Christie's $831 million double-header
    • Sotheby's, Top 10 Monet auction results

    $75.9M$75.9 million$87.5M$87.5 million today

18. No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue)

    Mark Rothko, 1954

    Sotheby's, New York, 13 November 2012, lot 19

    Sources

    • Sotheby's lot page, Contemporary Art Evening Auction N08900, lot 19
    • Bloomberg, 14 Nov 2012
    • ARTnews / Art in America, Record Total at Sotheby's Led by Rothko, Pollock, Bacon

    $75.1M$75.1 million$109.9M$109.9 million today

19. Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I)

    Andy Warhol, 1963

    Christie's, New York, 16 May 2007

    Sources

    • ARTnews, Warhol's $71.7M Crash Crowns Christie's
    • The Art Newspaper, Buyer of Green Car Crash revealed?

    $71.7M$71.7 million$116.2M$116.2 million today

20. Portrait de l'artiste sans barbe

    Vincent van Gogh, 1889

    Christie's, New York, 19 November 1998

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, Four Van Goghs go for 161m, 12 Nov 2021
    • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records
    • The Art Newspaper, ten most expensive Van Gogh paintings

    $71.5M$71.5 million$146.9M$146.9 million today

21. Waldabhang bei Unterach am Attersee (Forest Slope in Unterach on the Attersee)

    Gustav Klimt, 1916

    Sotheby's, New York, 18 November 2025, lot 14

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Lauder collection totals 527.5m
    • The Art Newspaper, 18 Nov 2025
    • Sotheby's, Breuer results article, Nov 2025

    $68.3M$68.3 million$71M$71 million today

22. Femme nue couchée

    Pablo Picasso, 1932

    Sotheby's, New York, 17 May 2022

    Sources

    • ARTnews, Sotheby's modern sale May 2022
    • The Art Newspaper, 18 May 2022
    • Artnet News, top lots May 2022

    $67.5M$67.5 million$77.9M$77.9 million today

23. L'Allée des Alyscamps

    Vincent van Gogh, 1888

    Sotheby's, New York, 5 May 2015, lot 18

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, 2 Jun 2015
    • Bloomberg, 5 May 2015
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's opens spring auctions with 368.3 M.
    • Sotheby's lot page, lot 18
    • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records

    $66.3M$66.3 million$93.9M$93.9 million today

24. Nymphéas

    Claude Monet, c. 1914–17

    Sotheby's, New York, 18 November 2024, lot 8

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Fall 2024 auction results
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's Sydell Miller sales Nov 2024

    $65.5M$65.5 million$70M$70 million today

25. Waterloo Bridge, soleil voilé

    Claude Monet, 1899–1903

    Christie's, New York, 9 November 2022

    Also sold: Christie's, 1997 ($8.2 million)

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, Paul Allen evening sale
    • Sotheby's, Top 10 Monet auction results

    $64.5M$64.5 million$73M$73 million today

26. Piles de romans parisiens et roses dans un verre (Romans parisiens)

    Vincent van Gogh, 1887

    Sotheby's, New York, 20 November 2025, lot 6

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, New York sales November 2025 results
    • The Art Newspaper, 21 Nov 2025
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's modern art sales, 62.7 M. Van Gogh
    • Sotheby's lot page, lot 6

    $62.7M$62.7 million$65.2M$65.2 million today

27. No. 31 (Yellow Stripe)

    Mark Rothko, 1958

    Christie's, New York, 17 November 2025

    Sources

    • ARTnews, Christie's Opens Marquee Auction Week
    • The Art Newspaper, 18 Nov 2025
    • Artnet News, Christie's Hauls In $690 Million

    $62.2M$62.2 million$64.6M$64.6 million today

28. Femme au chien

    Pablo Picasso, 1962

    Sotheby's, New York, 14 May 2019, lot 33

    Sources

    • ARTnews, Sotheby's Imp-Mod sale May 2019
    • The Art Newspaper, top ten auction results of 2019
    • Sotheby's, The top lots of 2019

    $54.9M$54.9 million$72.2M$72.2 million today

29. Paysage sous un ciel mouvementé

    Vincent van Gogh, 1889

    Sotheby's, New York, 5 November 2015, lot 14

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, sales round-up, 1 Dec 2015
    • Bloomberg, 6 Nov 2015
    • The Art Newspaper, ten most expensive Van Gogh paintings
    • Sotheby's lot page, lot 14
    • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records

    $54M$54 million$76.7M$76.7 million today

30. Champs près des Alpilles

    Vincent van Gogh, 1889

    Christie's, New York, 12 May 2022

    Sources

    • The Art Newspaper, 13 May 2022
    • Artnet News, 15 most expensive artworks sold, May 2022
    • Artnet News, Christie's 831 million double-header
    • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records

    $51.9M$51.9 million$59.8M$59.8 million today

31. Coin du bassin aux nymphéas

    Claude Monet, 1918

    Sotheby's, New York, 16 November 2021

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Top 10 Monet auction results
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's modern evening sale Nov 2021

    $50.8M$50.8 million$61.6M$61.6 million today

32. Study for a Head

    Francis Bacon, 1952

    Sotheby's, New York, 16 May 2019

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, 7. Francis Bacon
    • The Art Newspaper, 17 May 2019
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's hauls in 341.9 million

    $50.4M$50.4 million$66.3M$66.3 million today

33. 200 One Dollar Bills

    Andy Warhol, 1962

    Sotheby's, New York, 11 November 2009, lot 22

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, Andy Warhol and 200 One Dollar Bills
    • The Art Newspaper, 1 Dec 2009
    • Sotheby's lot page, lot 22

    $43.8M$43.8 million$68.2M$68.2 million today

34. Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers

    Vincent van Gogh, 1888

    Christie's, London, 30 March 1987

    about £24 million, rounded by The Art Newspaper

    Sources

    • ARTnews, 15 Van Gogh masterpieces that set auction records
    • The Art Newspaper, ten most expensive Van Gogh paintings

    $39.9M$39.9 million$119.9M$119.9 million today

35. La Moisson en Provence

    Vincent van Gogh, 1888

    Sotheby's, New York, 19 May 2026

    Sources

    • Sotheby's, New York 2026 spring season wrap-up
    • Artnet News, Sotheby's modern art auction May 2026
    • The Art Newspaper, 20 May 2026
    • ARTnews, Sotheby's Modern Evening Sale May 2026

    $29.4M$29.4 million$29.6M$29.6 million today