Going Once, Going Twice: Luxury Prices For Luxury Items At Auction

Like an extreme version of The Apprentice task, when Lord Alan Sugar gets contestants to travel the length and breadth of London looking for certain items, this list of luxurious items sold for eye-watering prices at auction – not the kind of items sold on BBC’s ‘Bargain Hunt’, that’s for sure – will make you want to raid your grandparents’ loft.

Romanée-Conti Wine

Apparently, millennials, not everyone is excited to hear about Tesco’s 25% discount when six or more bottles of wine are bought or that Aldi are launching a one-litre bottle of Prosecco.

Of course, no one out there expects us ignorant millennials to understand the subtle taste differences between a £5 bottle of wine and a glass of wine worth $1700. Bloody peasants, the lot of us?.

this $2 aldi wine is amazing! 🍷 pic.twitter.com/tCIBrIC4iz

— Chels Money (@chelssmoney) October 24, 2017

But in 2014, some non-millennial paid $1.6million for a set of 114 bottles from the 12th century, and more importantly, the highly-respected Burgundy vineyard.

Still gives you the same hangover, mind.

Patek Philippe Wristwatch

Sure, it may well be just one of four that were made, but give us a Casio any day of the week. And at $11million, you could get yourself 967742 Casios for that.

Good old @casiouk watch decided to jump in the washing machine and tumble dryer and came out smiling 😁⌚️#indestructible #Casio #casiowatch pic.twitter.com/sVNu4evnDL

— Christopher Cook (@Chris09cook) December 6, 2016

Marilyn Monroe’s Dress

Just the 2500 crystals on Monroe’s dress from the performance ‘Happy Birthday, Mr President’ for John F Kennedy back in 1962.

And in 2016, some anonymous bidder saw $4.6million leave their bank account, for the extremely figure-hugging dress worn by the actress who is believed to be – alongside a fake quote of her’s – on at least 94.3% of all of the world’s walls.

I grew a lot as a person when I learned I didn't need to correct everyone who falsely attributes a witty quote to Marilyn Monroe.

— Veronika Lee (@cleveronique37) June 29, 2017

Napoleon’s Sword

The original instrument in fake jedi-fighting in supermarkets with friends.

Purchased in 2007 for $6.5million, the sword – used at the Battle of Marengo – holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive weapon ever sold (you have to assume that’s until they work out how to sell those ‘blue shells’ you get given on Mario Kart; now *that’s* a weapon).

university is like being in first place in mario kart and then getting hit with a blue shell right after someone passes you

— tori (@tori614) October 29, 2017

Les Femmes d’Alger

The 15th, and final, piece in a series by Pablo Picasso sold for $179.4million in 2015, further confirming that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

Oppenheimer Blue

“one of the rarest gems in the world” it may well be, but if you managed to get your hands on the gem, like one lucky seller did in 2016, then your bank account would now be $57.5million better off.