As of February 2025, the most expensive painting ever sold is Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which fetched $450.3 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. This painting, depicting Jesus Christ as the “Savior of the World,” was acquired by an anonymous buyer, later reported to be acting on behalf of a Saudi prince. The artwork is currently held in Geneva, awaiting display in a planned museum in Riyadh, envisioned as the “Saudi Louvre.”  
The second most expensive painting is Willem de Kooning’s Interchange, sold privately for $300 million in 2015. This abstract expressionist work marked a significant shift in de Kooning’s artistic focus from women to urban landscapes. 
Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players ranks third, purchased by the royal family of Qatar for an estimated $250–$300 million in 2011. This piece is part of a series depicting laborers engaged in a card game, reflecting Cézanne’s interest in everyday scenes. 
These record-breaking sales highlight the immense value attributed to rare and culturally significant artworks in the global art market.