Maybe I should get into art collecting:

[amirm]

http://www.cnn.com/style/article/da-vinci-salvator-mundi-sale-christies/index.html

Rare Da Vinci painting smashes world records with $450 million sale...

[...]

When "Salvator Mundi" reappeared at auction in 1958, it was dismissed as a copy and sold for £45 ($59). Acquired by a group of art dealers for less than $10,000 in 2005, the painting -- which was in poor condition and had been heavily overpainted -- was painstakingly restored and subsequently authenticated.

The record-breaking price tag will come as a relief to previous owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian businessman, who bought the painting for $127.5 million in 2013.

 

[Wombat]

http://www.cnn.com/style/article/da-vinci-salvator-mundi-sale-christies/index.html

Rare Da Vinci painting smashes world records with $450 million sale...

[...]

When "Salvator Mundi" reappeared at auction in 1958, it was dismissed as a copy and sold for £45 ($59). Acquired by a group of art dealers for less than $10,000 in 2005, the painting -- which was in poor condition and had been heavily overpainted -- was painstakingly restored and subsequently authenticated.

The record-breaking price tag will come as a relief to previous owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian businessman, who bought the painting for $127.5 million in 2013.

If it sold previously for $120 million-odd it would have to be genuine, wouldn't it? Instead of having to prove its authenticity, now it has to be proven that it is not bona fide. There is much subjectivity in that price. In that $$$$$s stratosphere some heavy pressure can be applied to authenticators. Of course that sort of thing doesn't happen with audio magazine advertising vs reviews. And the beat goes on ....... .

 

[amirm]

Just as amazing was the fact that it went from $10,000 to that $120 million.

 

[Wombat]

Just as amazing was the fact that it went from $10,000 to that $120 million.

That is the too good to be true bit. All might be kosher, though. ????!!!!

 

[Brad]

The buyer was apparently anonymous too! The high likelihood that these prices are primarily for the purpose of laundering and does not even get a mention in the media I find stunning

 

[amirm]

Had not thought about that but makes a lot of sense.

 

[Soniclife]

The high likelihood that these prices are primarily for the purpose of laundering and does not even get a mention in the media I find stunning

Do you have link to how that works. Asking for a friend.

 

[Wombat]

It could explain the extreme end of audio. Do you take cash?

 

[Brad]

I don’t think you can sell ‘high end’ audio at a significant profit 10 or 20 years later

 

[Wombat]

I don’t think you can sell ‘high end’ audio at a significant profit 10 or 20 years later

Dubious money is also converted into current spending. Immediate gratification. Of course those buyers may not be in the 'look-at-me' category. (smilie)

 

[Sal1950]

Acquired by a group of art dealers for less than $10,000 in 2005, the painting -- which was in poor condition and had been heavily overpainted -- was painstakingly restored and subsequently authenticated.

Just as amazing was the fact that it went from $10,000 to that $120 million.

In that $$$$$s stratosphere some heavy pressure can be applied to authenticators

Yep, all it took was some creative "restoration" and a bit of friendly cash passed around to "authenticators" then you get insane amounts of money for a bit of oil on canvas. Same thing in audio, witness 5 figure phono preamps, DACs, etc, and 6 figure power amps, then read the flowery prose composed to anoint them.