The most – and least – expensive works in individual collections The most expensive piece featured in the list is Interchange by Willem de Kooning, which was purchased for $310 million. Among the world ’s biggest art collectors , 40 % work in asset management and only one woman was among the top 10 , according to research by Currys ' World and Samsung . Their research marked the first time the world ’s most expensive paintings had been categorised . It showed Picasso as the most popular painter and Willem de Kooning ’s " Interchange " as the most expensive painting at $ 310 m . The 10 biggest spenders had paid out $ 1.7bn and half the top 10 were from the US , the research found .
Among the world ’s biggest art collectors , 40 % work in asset management and only one woman was among the top 10 , according to research by Currys ' World and Samsung . Their research marked the first time the world ’s most expensive paintings had been categorised . It showed Picasso as the most popular painter and Willem de Kooning ’s " Interchange " as the most expensive painting at $ 310 m . The 10 biggest spenders had paid out $ 1.7bn and half the top 10 were from the US , the research found .