The Art Patrons of Our Day

History loves to repeat itself and so "Today's billionaires are no different from the grand dukes and popes of the Renaissance or the merchants of 17th century Amsterdam. They buy art to appreciate it, to learn from it and to profit from it" as is stated by Forbes' article Top Billionaire Art Collectors

The advantage of having billionaires obsessed with collecting art is that at the end of their hunt, it usually will amount to a collection for a new museum or public space everyone can enjoy. Who are these art lovers of the world with Rembrandts hanging in their homes or 12 million dollar sharks?

S.I. Newhouse (publisher, Conde Nast)


Steven A. Cohen (hedge fund)



Charles Saatchi (advertising)




Ronald Lauder (Estee Lauder heir)



Eli Broad (house building and insurance)



Francois Pinault (retail and luxury goods)

It continues "the individuals on whom we focus are those who collect with consistency, boundless appetites and the necessary billions to satisfy them. Fact: We have been living through an astounding boom--one that far surpasses its predecessor of the later 1980s. As with the 80s, much of the market is being made by the New Money" which is why the list focuses on just these few the ones with billions and are really in for the art.

Although this is from 2005 and there are probably newcomers today, this gives a good idea of the kind of billionaire art lover the art world raves after.