2013
“The forces driving the bidding in these salerooms right now are much bigger than either Christie’s or Sotheby’s—or even of the competition among major auction houses. “Over the past five years, a huge wave of global wealth has been swelling, transforming markets and industries across the globe.” Since 2013, the number of the world’s billionaires almost doubled from 1,426 to 2,668. In 2021, Sotheby’s and Christie’s sales each amounted to about $7 billion. In May, Christie’s sold Andy Warhol’s for a record $195 million.
