The American edition of Forbes released a list of billionaires who own the most valuable art collections. For the preparation of rating were interviewed collectors, appraisers, gallery owners, insurers and representatives from auction houses worldwide. In the rating did not include art dealers, for example Gagosyan Larry (Larry Gagosian), owners of corporate collections, such as Bill Gates (Bill Gates), as well as members of royal dynasties, holding collections of art.

Assessment of experts on specific figures, does not always coincide, but nearly all agreed regarding the names of leading-millionaire collectors. As a result, the final list included 14 people with private collections valued from $ 700 million. Estimates have been somewhat underestimated, given the list of figures should be considered the minimum amount possible.

In the first place was Philip Niarhos (Philip Niarchos), son of shipping magnate Stavros Niarhosa (Stavros Niarchos). It has a collection of works of art, valued at least $ 2 billion. Its start has been made in 1949 by his father, Philip, later Niarhos senior in the collection include Van Gogh self-portrait (Van Gogh) with a cut ear and a self-portrait of Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso) «Yo, Picasso». The next owner of the collection, Niarhos, Jr., has added his works of modern authors, including the «self», Jean-Michel Basque (Jean-Michel Basquiat) and «Red Marilyn» Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol).

The second line is the ranking French billionaire Francois Pinault (Francois Pinault), owner of castles, vineyards and the auction house Christie's. His collection, which includes more than 2000 works, estimated at 1.4 billion dollars. There are works by more than 80 sponsors, including Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian (Piet Mondrian) and Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons). Many of them can be seen in two of Pinot Venetian museums: Palazzo Grassi and Dogan, opening its doors to visitors as recently as June of this year . Once in an interview with Forbes, François Pinault said: «I am interested in art, which throws me a call that violates the calm and confidence of the bourgeois way of life».

Among the leaders was also Eli Brody (Eli Broad) with a collection valued at $ 1 billion. Brody earned status on the construction of real estate, has already collected about 40 years. During this time he managed to collect nearly 2000 works of more than 200 authors, among them Robert Rauschenberg (Robert Rauschenberg), Donald Judd (Donald Judd), and Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol). But his favorite job - «Rabbit» Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons). In 1984, Brody has ceased to have enough space for placement of its own works of art, which led him to create its own fund - Broad Art Foundation, which offers items from the collection of organizations around the world. Collection Brody continues to grow - last year's billionaire bought 10 or 15 works. «We do not buy the usual things», - he said.

billions of dollars, experts assessed the collection and mediamagnata Geffena David (David Geffen), which has been a very forward-looking buyer and seller. Within a few months of 2006, well before the downturn in prices for contemporary art, it is an irreplaceable 420 million dollars for the four paintings. Among them were «false» Jasper Johns (Jasper Johns), sold over 80 million, as well as the Police Gazette and «Woman III» Willem de Kuninga (Willem de Kooning) - for 63.5 million and 137 million respectively (the buyer of the last two was Stephen Cohen (Steven Cohen)). But even after the sale in meeting Geffena remained fairly masterpieces in order to enter the list of Forbes.

Not behind David Geffena Ronald Lauder (Ronald Lauder), son of the founder of the famous perfume and cosmetics company Este Lauder (Estee Lauder). The first job for his collection, self-portrait of Egon Schiele (Egon Schiele), he bought for 10 thousand dollars which he gave on the day of adulthood. According to Ronald Lauder, the whole, there are three categories of art: «On!», «Wow!» And «Oh, my God!». He prefers to collect the past. In 2006, he paid for the «Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer» Gustav Klimt (Gustav Klimt) 135 million dollars - at that time the amount was the largest ever paid for a work of art. Now, according to available information, Lauder has a 4 thousand pieces, including one of the finest collections of European medieval art and armor. In addition, he is the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and exhibits items from its collections in the Neue Galerie in New York that he opened in November 2001

British scholar of Iranian origin Nasser D. Khalili (Nasser D. Khalili) is the owner of one of the largest private collections of Islamic art, which is estimated to cost 900 million dollars. It includes more than 20 thousand items, including rare paintings, textiles and manuscripts. The first one he bought when he was still a teenager. In addition, Khalili collects Meiji Japanese art, Indian and Swedish textiles, Spanish pieces of metal.

On the seventh line of the rating was the head of Estee Lauder Leonard Lauder (Leonard Lauder) kubisticheskogo with a collection of art whose value estimated at 800 million dollars. He is the canvas «Nude in an armchair» (1909), Pablo Picasso and «the meal with fruit and a glass» Marriage Georges (Georges Braque). He began to collect postcards and posters as early as childhood. His collection of 25 thousand Japanese postcards XX century, he gave the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Leonard Lauder is also the honorary president of the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, where in 2008 he handed over 131 million dollars.

One of the founders of Microsoft Paul Allen (Paul Allen) has an impressive collection of French impressionists, post, and artists of XX century, the value of which is estimated at 750 million dollars. According to available information, it includes «Rouen Cathedral at Noon» Claude Monet (Claude Monet), «reads» Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Pierre-Auguste Renoir), «Kiss» Roy Lichtenstein (Roy Lichtenstein) and «Numbers» Jasper Johns.

Collection Specialist Investment Leon Black (Leon Black), estimated at 750 million dollars, includes both of the old masters and impressionists, as well as works by contemporary authors. He was paid in 2005, 27 million dollars for a sculpture of Constantin Brancusi (Constantin Brancusi) «A bird in the space». Leon Black is also included in the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum and the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

a dozen leaders also had the King hedge fund industry Steven Cohen (Steven Cohen), whose collection of experts evaluated the 750 million dollars. He was very actively buys a work of art: they say that in recent years he has spent on it up to 500 million dollars. As mentioned above, namely Cohen bought from David Geffena two works Kuninga. He also agreed to pay 139 million dollars for «Dream» Picasso. But the deal, unfortunately, did not take place due to that the seller, Stephen Wynne (Stephen Wynn) accidentally protknul canvas elbow . Among high-profile acquisitions Cohen should also be described as «shark in formaldehyde» (it is «physical impossibility of death in the minds of living») Demiena Hurst (Damien Hirst).

The list of billionaires who own the most valuable collections of works of art are also included:

Krevis Henry (Henry Kravis). $ 700 million. It Krevis, co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sold in 2008 at auction Sotheby's «Resting dancer» Edgar Degas (Edgar Degas) for 37 million dollars - to 9 million more than he paid for it in 1999. He prefers the works of Impressionist and modern authors. In the Metropolitan Museum even has a wing called his name. His wife Marie-José Krevis (Marie Josée-Kravis) headed by a Board of Trustees of the New York MOMA.

Samuel Nyuhauz Jr. (Samuel Newhouse, Jr.). $ 700 million. The owner of the well-known publishing company Condé Nast in 1988 paid 17 million dollars for a «false» Jasper Johns - then, the price was a record for a work of living artists. He later resold the picture of David Geffenu, but for 80 million. Nyuhauz more than a quarter of a century a member of the board of trustees MOMA, but in 2000 resigned from his post due to the fact that the dealer purchased on behalf of the Museum Picasso painting «The man with the guitar».

Greter Esther (Esther Grether). $ 700 million. In 1975, Esther Greter inherited from her last husband's cosmetics company. Top valuable collection of works of the XX century, which includes more than 600 items, including the works of Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne (Paul Cezanne), Salvador Dali (Salvador Dali) and Alberto Giacometti (Alberto Giacometti). There is evidence that it is also the owner triptych Francis Bacon (Francis Bacon) «May - June 1973», which is now on display at the traveling exhibition.

Lesli Ueksner (Leslie Wexner). $ 700 million. Proprietor Corporation Limited Brands in 1984 established his own Foundation Wexner Foundation, and in 1989 - Wexner Center for the Arts, a gallery of modern art from the research laboratory. In his collection are the work of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse (Henri Matisse), Edgar Degas and Willem de Kuninga.

material produced Catherine Onuchin, AI

Sources: forbes.com , artinvestment.ru