Paul Allen Art Collection Expected To Sell For More Than $1B At Auction

Famous masterpieces belonging to the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen are expected to bring in record-breaking bids at an auction in New York. The works of art are on display in London ahead of the sale.

Rarely does a billionaire’s bounty go up for sale. “Well, this will be a historic moment for the art world,” says Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie’s global president.

150 pieces from Microsoft Allen’s estate will be put under the hammer on November 9, 2022. “He bought with an extremely careful eye. He was a man who really understood the artworks and their individual significance," says Pylkkanen.

It’s being described as the sale of the century, featuring artwork spanning 500 years. "It's by value the greatest auction ever put on. In terms of the range and quality of the masterpieces, it's the greatest ever put on,” says Max Carter, vice chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art at Christie's America.

And they won’t go cheap. Some pieces, like a Cezanne landscape, are expected to fetch over 100 million dollars. Christie’s expects the sale will bring in more than 1 billion dollars.

Another painting capturing attention is a Botticelli. "Perhaps the Botticelli is the most fascinating because it's the only painting from before 1700 in the whole collection. It's one of the greatest Renaissance paintings in private hands,” says Andrew Fletcher, Christie's global head of Old Masters.

For folks with a little less pocket change, there are some pieces ranging in the low millions. Collectors from around the world are expected to bid on the billionaire’s treasures when they’re sold at Christie’s New York in November.

Paul Allen died in 2018. Keeping with his wishes, all proceeds from the auction will be given to charity. During his lifetime, the Microsoft pioneer donated more than 2.65 billion dollars to charitable organizations.