Art, diamonds and a ticket to space
The paintings, jewels, cars and one-off experiences the ultra-rich buy when they already own everything.
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Griffin's $300M Art Buy
$300 million · Ken Griffin · September 2015
Griffin bought de Kooning's Interchange from David Geffen for $300 million as part of a two-painting private deal.
To Griffin, that felt like $1,162. It could have saved about 54,545 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, April 2017 · The full story →
Larry Ellison. Photo: Photo: Oracle PR Hartmann Studios / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Ellison's $300M Splurge
About $300 million · Larry Ellison · September 2013
Forbes reported Ellison was rumored to have personally spent about $300 million sponsoring his America's Cup effort.
To Ellison, that felt like $305. It could have saved about 54,545 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, September 2013 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Griffin's $200M Art Buy
$200 million · Ken Griffin · September 2015
Griffin paid $200 million for Jackson Pollock's Number 17A in the same private deal in which he bought de Kooning's Interchange for $300 million.
To Griffin, that felt like $775. It could have saved about 36,364 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, April 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Liu Yiqian & Wang Wei's $170.4M Art Buy
$170.4 million · Liu Yiqian & Wang Wei · November 2015
Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei bought Modigliani's 1917 Nu Couche for $170.4 million at Christie's.
It could have saved about 30,982 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, November 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cohen's $165M Art Buy
$165 million · Steve Cohen · January 2017
Bloomberg reported Cohen bought Roy Lichtenstein's 1962 painting Masterpiece for $165 million in a private sale completed in January 2017.
It could have saved about 30,000 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, June 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Licensed stock. Cohen's $155M Art Buy
$155 million · Steve Cohen · March 2013
Bloomberg reported Cohen bought Pablo Picasso's Le Rêve from casino mogul Steve Wynn for $155 million.
It could have saved about 28,182 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, March 2013 · The full story →
Elaine Wynn. Photo: Photo: Governor Jim Justice / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Wynn's $142.4M Art Buy
$142.4 million · Elaine Wynn · November 2013
Wynn won Francis Bacon's triptych Three Studies of Lucian Freud at Christie's for $142.4 million.
It could have saved about 25,891 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2016 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cohen's $137.5M Art Buy
$137.5 million · Steve Cohen · November 2006
Cohen bought Willem de Kooning's Woman III directly from David Geffen for $137.5 million in November 2006.
It could have saved about 25,000 lives from malaria.
Source: ABC News, 2007 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Lauder's $135M Art Buy
$135 million · Ronald Lauder · June 2006
Lauder bought Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I for his Neue Galerie for a reported $135 million.
It could have saved about 24,545 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, July 2006 · The full story →
Dmitry Rybolovlev. Photo: Photo: Franck Nataf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Rybolovlev's $127.5M Art Buy
$127.5 million · Dmitry Rybolovlev · May 2013
Rybolovlev bought Salvator Mundi for $127.5 million in 2013 through art dealer Yves Bouvier.
It could have saved about 23,182 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Black's $119.9M Art Buy
$119.9 million · Leon Black · May 2012
Financier Leon Black was identified as the buyer of an Edvard Munch pastel of The Scream that sold at Sotheby's on May 2, 2012 for $119.9 million.
It could have saved about 21,800 lives from malaria.
Source: Los Angeles Times, July 2012 · The full story →
Yusaku Maezawa. Photo: Photo: Mark Vande Hei (see EXIF data) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Maezawa's $110.5M Art Buy
$110.5 million · Yusaku Maezawa · May 2017
Japanese e-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa paid $110.5 million for Basquiat's Untitled at auction.
It could have saved about 20,091 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, May 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cohen's $110M Art Buy
About $110 million · Steve Cohen · March 2010
Cohen bought Jasper Johns's 1958 Flag in a private sale.
It could have saved about 20,000 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2022 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cohen's $91M Art Buy
$91 million · Steve Cohen · May 2019
Bloomberg reported that Artnet identified Cohen as the buyer of Jeff Koons's stainless-steel Rabbit after the work sold for $91 million at Christie's, then a record for a living artist at auction.
It could have saved about 16,545 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, May 2019 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Winfrey's $87.9M Art Buy
$87.9 million · Oprah Winfrey · November 2006
Guinness World Records states Winfrey bought Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II at Christie's on November 8, 2006 for $87.9 million.
It could have saved about 15,982 lives from malaria.
Source: Guinness World Records · The full story →
Roman Abramovich. Photo: Photo: Amir Hosseini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Abramovich's $86.3M Art Buy
$86.3 million · Roman Abramovich · May 2008
Abramovich was identified as the buyer of Bacon's Triptych, 1976, which sold for $86.3 million at Sotheby's.
It could have saved about 15,691 lives from malaria.
Source: The Art Newspaper, May 2008 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Griffin's $80M Art Buy
$80 million · Ken Griffin · October 2006
ABC News reported Griffin paid David Geffen $80 million for Jasper Johns's False Start in October 2006, one month before Steve Cohen's $137.5 million de Kooning purchase.
To Griffin, that felt like $310. It could have saved about 14,545 lives from malaria.
Source: ABC News, 2007 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Sun's $78.4M Art Buy
$78.4 million · Justin Sun · November 2021
Sotheby's identified Sun as the buyer of Alberto Giacometti's Le Nez for $78.4 million at the Macklowe Collection auction in New York.
It could have saved about 14,255 lives from malaria.
Source: Sotheby's, 2021 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani & Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser's $72.8M Art Buy
$72.8 million · Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani & Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser · May 2007
Qatar's ruling Al Thani family was identified as the buyer of Rothko's White Center, which sold at Sotheby's for $72.8 million.
It could have saved about 13,236 lives from malaria.
Source: Los Angeles Times, May 2008 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Zhongjun's $61.8M Art Buy
$61.8 million · Wang Zhongjun · November 2014
Wang Zhongjun was reported as the buyer of Van Gogh's Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies for $61.8 million at Sotheby's.
It could have saved about 11,236 lives from malaria.
Source: Sky News, November 2014 · The full story →
Yusaku Maezawa. Photo: Photo: Mark Vande Hei (see EXIF data) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Maezawa's $57.3M Art Buy
$57.3 million · Yusaku Maezawa · May 2016
Maezawa paid $57.3 million for a Basquiat work at a Christie's sale in May 2016.
It could have saved about 10,418 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, May 2016 · The full story →
Illustration: a SpaceX Crew Dragon approaching the ISS. Photo: Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Connor's $55M Space Trip
$55 million · Larry Connor · April 2022
Connor was one of three private passengers on Axiom Mission 1 to the International Space Station.
It could have saved about 10,000 lives from malaria.
Source: NASA, April 2022 · The full story →
Joseph Lau. Photo: Photo: Cewikiupdate / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Lau's $48.4M Bling
$48.4 million · Joseph Lau · November 2015
Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau paid $48.4 million at Sotheby's for the 12.03-carat Blue Moon diamond, then the most ever spent on a jewel at auction.
It could have saved about 8,800 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, November 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Liu Yiqian & Wang Wei's $45M Art Buy
$45 million · Liu Yiqian & Wang Wei · November 2014
Forbes reported Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei's collection included a Tibetan tapestry acquired the prior year for $45 million.
It could have saved about 8,182 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Griffin's $44.6M Fossil
$44.6 million · Ken Griffin · July 2024
Griffin paid $44.6 million at Sotheby's for the stegosaurus fossil known as Apex.
To Griffin, that felt like $173. It could have saved about 8,109 lives from malaria.
Source: Financial Times, July 2024 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Griffin's $43.2M Art Buy
$43.2 million · Ken Griffin · November 2021
Griffin paid $43.2 million at Sotheby's for a rare first-edition copy of the U.S.
To Griffin, that felt like $167. It could have saved about 7,855 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2021 · The full story →
Illustration. Licensed stock. Lee's $38.5M Splurge
$38.5 million · David Lee · January 2026
Lee bought the Bianco Speciale 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at Mecum's Kissimmee auction for $38.5 million.
It could have saved about 7,000 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, February 2026 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Yiqian's $36.3M Art Buy
$36.3 million · Liu Yiqian · July 2014
Forbes reported Liu paid $36.3 million for a small Ming-era porcelain cup decorated with chickens.
It could have saved about 6,600 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, November 2015 · The full story →
Eduardo Costantini. Photo: Photo: not stated / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Costantini's $34.9M Art Buy
$34.9 million · Eduardo Costantini · November 2021
Argentine businessman and collector Eduardo Costantini bought Frida Kahlo's 1949 self-portrait Diego y Yo for $34.9 million at Sotheby's.
It could have saved about 6,345 lives from malaria.
Source: Architectural Digest, November 2021 · The full story →
Roman Abramovich. Photo: Photo: Amir Hosseini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Abramovich's $33.6M Art Buy
$33.6 million · Roman Abramovich · May 2008
Abramovich was identified as the buyer of Lucian Freud's Benefits Supervisor Sleeping for $33.6 million at Christie's.
It could have saved about 6,109 lives from malaria.
Source: The Art Newspaper, May 2008 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Gates' $30.8M Art Buy
$30.8 million · Bill Gates & Melinda Gates · November 1994
Gates bought Leonardo da Vinci's illustrated scientific manuscript at Christie's for $30,802,500 on November 11, 1994.
It could have saved about 5,600 lives from malaria.
Source: Guinness World Records · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Zhongjun's $29.9M Art Buy
$29.9 million · Wang Zhongjun · May 2015
Huayi Brothers cofounder Wang Zhongjun bought Picasso's 1948 Femme au chignon dans un fauteuil for $29.9 million at Sotheby's.
It could have saved about 5,436 lives from malaria.
Source: Los Angeles Times, May 2015 · The full story →
Joseph Lau. Photo: Photo: Cewikiupdate / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Lau's $28.7M Bling
$28.7 million · Joseph Lau · November 2015
Bloomberg reported Lau paid 28.7 million Swiss francs for a 16.08-carat pink diamond at Christie's in Geneva, one day before his record-setting blue-diamond purchase.
It could have saved about 5,218 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, November 2015 · The full story →
Yusaku Maezawa. Photo: Photo: Mark Vande Hei (see EXIF data) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Maezawa's $22.3M Art Buy
$22.3 million · Yusaku Maezawa · November 2016
Maezawa told Forbes he bought Picasso's Buste de Femme (Dora Maar) in New York in November 2016 for 2.475 billion yen, which Forbes converted to $22.3 million.
It could have saved about 4,055 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, April 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Jianlin's $20.1M Art Buy
About $20.1 million · Wang Jianlin · May 2015
Dalian Wanda Group, controlled by Wang Jianlin, bought Monet's 1913 Bassin aux nympheas, les rosiers at Sotheby's.
It could have saved about 3,655 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, May 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $18M Bling
$18 million · Floyd Mayweather · June 2018
Mayweather posted a video showing a Jacob & Co.
It could have saved about 3,273 lives from malaria.
Source: UPI, June 2018 · The full story →
Eduardo Costantini. Photo: Photo: not stated / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Costantini's $15.7M Art Buy
$15.7 million · Eduardo Costantini · May 2016
Argentine real-estate developer and collector Eduardo Costantini paid $15.7 million for Diego Rivera's Baile en Tehuantepec.
It could have saved about 2,855 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, April 2017 · The full story →
Drake in 2016. Photo: Photo: The Come Up Show / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Drake's $12.5M Bling
About $12.5 million · Drake · December 2022
The custom necklace, titled Previous Engagements, contains 42 engagement-ring diamonds totaling 351.38 carats and was made over 14 months.
To Drake, that felt like $6,028. It could have saved about 2,273 lives from malaria.
Source: Teen Vogue, December 2022 · The full story →
Eli Broad. Photo: Photo: Jeremiah Garcia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Broad's $11.8M Art Buy
$11.8 million · Eli Broad · May 2016
Broad paid $11.8 million for Sam Francis's 1957 painting Summer #1.
It could have saved about 2,145 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, April 2017 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $10M Bling
At least $10 million · Floyd Mayweather · December 2015
Mayweather's representative told TMZ his new diamond collection cost between $10 million and $15 million.
It could have saved about 1,818 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, December 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Bonderman's $7M Splurge
About $7 million · David Bonderman · November 2002
Bonderman's 60th birthday featured private performances by John Mellencamp and the Rolling Stones, with Robin Williams entertaining between acts.
It could have saved about 1,273 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, July 2009 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Sun's $6.2M Banana
$6.2 million · Justin Sun · November 2024
Sun bought Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual work Comedian at a Sotheby's auction for $6.2 million including fees.
It could have saved about 1,127 lives from malaria.
Source: Bloomberg, November 2024 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $5.3M Bling
$5.3 million · Floyd Mayweather · November 2018
TMZ reported Mayweather spent $5.3 million at Peter Marco's Beverly Hills jewelry store on November 14.
It could have saved about 964 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, November 2018 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Mayweather's $3.1M Art Buy
About $3.1 million · Floyd Mayweather · November 2022
TMZ reported Mayweather spent $3.1 million in about 60 minutes at the SCOPE Art Show during Miami's Art Basel week.
It could have saved about 564 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, November 2022 · The full story →
Illustration. Licensed stock. Schwarzman's $3M Splurge
About $3 million · Stephen Schwarzman · February 2007
Schwarzman's Park Avenue Armory birthday party featured Rod Stewart, Patti LaBelle and Martin Short.
It could have saved about 545 lives from malaria.
Source: Forbes, May 2016 · The full story →
Illustration. Licensed stock. Mayweather's $1.9M Splurge
$1.9 million · Floyd Mayweather · February 2018
Mayweather gave TMZ a tour of his newly purchased cars, including a $600,000 Rolls-Royce and a $1.3 million Bugatti.
It could have saved about 345 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, February 2018 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: After Henry Marriott Paget / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Mayweather's $1.7M Art Buy
$1.7 million · Floyd Mayweather · November 2022
TMZ reported Mayweather returned to the Miami art fairs after his first multimillion-dollar purchase and spent another $1.7 million.
It could have saved about 309 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, November 2022 · The full story →
Post Malone. Photo: Photo: Toglenn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Malone's $1.6M Bling
$1.6 million · Post Malone · June 2021
Post Malone's dental work combined porcelain veneers with two diamond fangs totaling about 12 carats.
It could have saved about 291 lives from malaria.
Source: E! News, June 2021 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $1.5M Bling
At least $1.5 million · Floyd Mayweather · December 2015
TMZ reported Mayweather spent more than $1.5 million during a two-day Dubai Mall spree, including a roughly $1.1 million diamond-covered Hublot.
It could have saved about 273 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, December 2015 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $1.2M Bling
$1.3 million · Floyd Mayweather · December 2022
TMZ reported Mayweather commissioned 50 custom chains at $25,000 each from jeweler Johnny Dang, totaling $1.25 million before counting two additional giant TMT pendants.
It could have saved about 227 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, December 2022 · The full story →
Conor McGregor. Photo: Photo: Andrius Petrucenia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. McGregor's $1M Bling
$1 million · Conor McGregor · January 2021
McGregor showed off a rose-gold Jacob & Co.
It could have saved about 182 lives from malaria.
Source: Complex, January 2021 · The full story →
Post Malone. Photo: Photo: Toglenn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Malone's $1M Bling
$1 million · Post Malone · March 2020
In a GQ video, Post Malone identified his Richard Mille RM 052 Tourbillon Skull Asia Edition as his most expensive watch and valued it at $1 million.
It could have saved about 182 lives from malaria.
Source: GQ, March 2020 · The full story →
Illustration. Not the actual item. Photo: Photo: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Mayweather's $1M Bling
$1 million · Floyd Mayweather · March 2014
A source with direct knowledge of the deal told TMZ Mayweather paid $1 million for a custom watch made with about 60 carats of diamonds.
It could have saved about 182 lives from malaria.
Source: TMZ, March 2014 · The full story →
Questions
What is the most expensive purchase a billionaire has bought?
Griffin's $300M Art Buy: Ken Griffin paid $300 million (September 2015), according to Forbes, April 2017.
How much do billionaires spend on a purchase?
Across the 53 purchases documented here, the middle price is $38.5 million, and together they cost $3.4 billion.
Which billionaire has spent the most on purchases?
Ken Griffin, with $667.8 million across the purchases listed here.
What could the money spent on these purchases have done instead?
$3.4 billion could have saved about 618,828 lives from malaria, at GiveWell's estimate of $5,500 per life saved.