Peach Blossom Spring sold for HK$240 million ... here are eight other things you can buy for that much
From the biggest to the rarest, the going rate for a Zhang Daqian could buy a lot
The landscape painting, considered one of the artist’s most important works, was predicted to sell for HK$65 million, including the buyer’s premium.
But it had already reached more than twice that when the buyer, later revealed to be from billionaire former mainland taxi driver Liu Yiqian’s Long Museum, phoned in.
It sparked applause in the bidding room, which soon turned to disbelief as the price rose higher and bidders dropped out.
“This is crazy,” said a buyer on the floor.
The bidding finally ended with the jaw-dropping sum, which didn’t even include the buyer’s premium of HK$31 million.
Since the expensive painting has found a new owner, here are eight other things that cost HK$240 million, or US$30 million.
1. Tuvalu for ten months
The South Pacific island’s gross domestic product for a year is US$38 million or HK$295 million, so for the cost of a treasured landscape painting the entire island of Tuvalu – with its roughly 11,000 inhabitants – could be hired to do your bidding. In theory.
2. The Golden Gate Bridge (in 1933)
It’s a work of art in its own right. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was estimated to cost US$35 million to construct in 1933.
3. 133,334 acres on the moon
4. 75 Lamborghini Aventadors
Everyone wants the red one, surely, but for the price of a good painting a fleet of hot supercars could be bought.
5. The Aster 15 surface-to-air missile system
This short-range missile is perfect for defending battleships from being hit by other supersonic missiles, as well as shooting down other projectiles before they hit your base. The missile comes at a bargain price of US$27 million for a battery of defensive capability. We’d prefer the painting.
6. 12,500,000 Big Macs
7. Kelletteria
8. The mansion of Google’s Eric Schmidt, where Kim Kardashian wed Kris Humphries
The Montecito, California, address could be had for US$30 million, according to Variety, but we understand the celebrity couple paid a fraction of the price to rent the place for the culmination of their brief linkage.