Top 5 Of The Most Expensive Paintings In The World

The art market is dynamic, and the prices of artworks often reach dizzying amounts. Here are the most expensive paintings in the world as of mid-2026, based on publicly known sales data (both at auctions and through private deals):

1. “Salvator Mundi”, Leonardo da Vinci – $450.3 million

2. “Interchange”, Willem de Kooning – $300 million

3. “The Card Players”, Paul Cézanne – ~$250 million

4. “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer”, Gustav Klimt – $236.4 million

5. “Nafea Faa Ipoipo”, Paul Gauguin – ~$210 million

“Salvator Mundi” (Savior of the World) remains the absolute record holder. The painting was sold in 2017 at a Christie’s auction. There are still debates among experts regarding its authorship as to whether it is entirely the work of Leonardo or his students under his guidance, but this did not change its record price.

Many of the most expensive paintings in the world are sold through private contracts, rather than at public auctions. This means that the information about the real amount is sometimes based on expert estimates or official confirmations from auction houses over time.

“Mona Lisa” is often mentioned as the most valuable painting, with estimates over 800-900 million dollars, but it does not appear in the “sales” rankings, as it is owned by the French state and is practically unsalable.

These amounts often seem unreal, but for collectors, these works are not just paintings, but historical assets that rarely come on the market.