450 million dollars. For a painting.

NickD said:

RevRico said:

"There is extraordinary consensus it is by Leonardo"

Pretty berkeleying expensive "maybe" if you ask me.

Also, didn't they recently start to believe that a lot of the stuff credited to Da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, may not have actually have been done by him?

It is most definitely NOT "extraordinary consensus" on it being a Leonardo. It has all of the hallmarks of one being made under him though by an apprentice or at least setup an with him finishing the painting. 

The art verifier of the painting is getting a percentage of the sales price. So not entirely independent and the seller has been to court a few times to get his cash back when he paid ~125 million a number of years back when he got it as part of a collection because it is disputed. 

That isn't a painting anymore, it's an investment.  It was likely bought by a consortium that subscribes to the greater fool theorey.

If it was the only existing complete running example of a very rare car hand built by one of the greatest master car builders of all time in perfect condition, would we be surprised if it sold for a ridiculous amount or money? 

Why is it different if it's a painting?

Its not a painting... it's an investment. 

Usually, I wouldn't have a problem with things like this. You want to spend +25 millions on an old Ferrari, it's your money.

But this is different. The amount paid is what makes it obscene. 

In reply to Streetwiseguy : or a tax dodge.  

Also it’s extremely unlikely that it’s a cash deal.  

If I agree that your track day Miata is worth a million dollars then I can sell you my Jaguar for 2 million and only come up with $5 or 6000 cash. 

I'm going to pass over the "if it's genuine" part.  I've known a few rich people and actually have an art degree, and I would put money on it A: being an investment which may include others, or B: it was bought to display possibly in a museum of their choosing.  Most paintings like these are not privately owned, or if they are, are on exhibit or permanent loan.  Keep in mind while that is an insane amount of money, paintings like these have always been extremely expensive.  I remember studying a Van Gogh that sold for like $80 million in what, 1990.  What is that in today's dollars? 

If your worth multiple billion, $450 mil is not exactly going to break you.  We also do not know what charitable donations the buyer might give, or what they do with any of their money.  It may be nothing, but again, the rich people I know are not exactly stingy in that arena. 

^None of this can excuse paying $450M for a painting to me, sorry. Even if that person gave $450M to charity, which would instantly put them on the top 50 lifetime most charitable list. Paying that money for a painting is a game where the only winning move is not to play.

GameboyRMH said:

^None of this can excuse paying $450M for a painting to me, sorry. Even if that person gave $450M to charity, which would instantly put them on the top 50 lifetime most charitable list. Paying that money for a painting is a game where the only winning move is not to play.

I think you would be surprised about charitable donations. A 10 second google search found two that were $500M each and another dozen that were well over $100M. Those were just last year. 

none of us want anyone telling us how to spend out (little) money we have.

I'm glad we have the freedom to pay obscene amounts of money for things, if you want to.

If you really care about charity, give up your $2018 for your race team and give it to the homeless shelter.

It's all a luxury.

I find it odd that a restored painting is worth $450 million dollars, but if you restore furniture or firearms you destroy the collector value. 

No way I am putting faith in what an "expert thinks".   

In reply to spitfirebill :

We're this far in and monkey Jesus hasn't come up yet when talking about restorations. So this is my gift to you:

I laughed for about 5 minutes straight the first time I saw Monkey Jesus  Just imagining that old lady doing more "restoration work" every day and thinking to herself "This is fine, this is going well. I don't need help." XD

Toyman01 said:

I think you would be surprised about charitable donations. A 10 second google search found two that were $500M each and another dozen that were well over $100M. Those were just last year. 

I wouldn't, I did my research:

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-generous-people-in-the-world-2015-10

Appleseed said:

I'd like to paint something worth that much. Preferably in my lifetime.

There’s the rub though; you have to die for your “art” to really be appreciated.