The thrill of owning something unique can push people to spend more than anyone thought possible. Some items have histories attached to them, others are just rare, and a few are simply iconic. Once the bidding starts, it’s impossible to predict how high the numbers will go. Get ready to uncover ten rare finds that commanded staggering price tags.
Salvator Mundi Painting
A painting that vanished for centuries suddenly reappeared and changed art history. Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” was misattributed for years before experts confirmed its authenticity. In 2017, Christie’s sold it for $450.3 million, the most expensive painting ever auctioned. Its last known owner, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, keeps it hidden.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is one of only two ever made. In 2022, Mercedes-Benz sold one for a record-breaking $142 million, shattering previous car auction records. This car was never sold to the public and was kept in the company’s collection. Before this, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO held the record, selling for $70 million in 2018.
Pink Star Diamond
A 59.60-carat pink diamond doesn’t just sparkle—it rewrites record books. The Pink Star Diamond, mined by De Beers, took years to cut into its flawless oval shape. After a failed 2013 sale, it finally found a buyer in 2017 when Chow Tai Fook purchased it for $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.
The T. Rex Skeleton “Sue”
In 1997, the fossilized remains of a nearly complete T. rex named “Sue” were sold for $8.36 million, making it possibly the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned. Discovered in South Dakota, “Sue” is over 90% complete and offers invaluable insights into the prehistoric world, an incredible scientific and historical treasure.
World’s Oldest Quran Manuscript
Potentially one of the world’s oldest complete Quran manuscripts dating from the 10th century was sold for $2.3 million at a London auction. The rare item was written in early Kufic script, a style of calligraphy used during that time. Gold outlined thin black lines were used in the inscription of this manuscript.
Messiah Antonio Stradivari
The Messiah Stradivarius, crafted in 1716, is one of the best-preserved violins ever. A violin in perfect condition after more than 300 years is practically unheard of. It now sits in the Ashmolean Museum, valued at $20 million—a fortune for an instrument that rarely, if ever, produces sound or is played.
2009 Honus Wagner Baseball Card
A tiny piece of cardboard that turned into a multimillion-dollar treasure. Printed between 1909 and 1911, the Honus Wagner T206 baseball card is one of the holy grails of sports collectibles. With fewer than 60 known to exist, a mint-condition one shattered records in 2021 and fetched $6.6 million in an online auction.
Bluefin Tuna Auction
Tokyo’s annual tuna auction is anything but ordinary. Sushi restaurant mogul Kiyoshi Kimura shelled out $3.1 million in 2019 for a 612-pound bluefin tuna, which made it the most expensive ever sold. While the fish’s quality was exceptional, conservationists continue to warn about the species’ decline in population.
Patek Philippe Watch
Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010, with 20 complications, became the most expensive watch ever auctioned when it sold for $31 million in 2019. A luxury timepiece built to be one of a kind. Unlike other Patek Philippe watches meant for private collectors, this one was created specifically to break records at a charity event.
Codex Leicester By Leonardo Da Vinci
Owning da Vinci’s handwritten notes? That’s exactly what Bill Gates did. In 1994, he purchased the “Codex Leicester” for $30.8 million. The manuscript, filled with da Vinci’s thoughts on water, astronomy, and geology, is one of the few privately owned works to be widely shared after Gates had its pages digitized for the public to view.
