In October 2017, Christie's caused a sensation by announcing the auction of the last privately-owned Leonardo da Vinci oil painting. Although there were already doubts about Leonardo’s direct authorship, the painting was expected to fetch around $100 million when it went under the hammer in New York. However, this estimate was quickly surpassed when Salvator Mundi sold for a staggering $450.3 million (including buyer’s premium), setting a new record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. This sale also sparked widespread speculation about the buyer’s identity and the painting’s future whereabouts.
See also: The 12 Most Expensive Paintings Ever Auctioned
The buyer was soon revealed to be Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who had acquired Salvator Mundi through an intermediary. It was widely rumoured that the painting would be displayed at the opening of the new Louvre Abu Dhabi, but this never happened. In 2019, the Louvre in Paris requested to borrow Salvator Mundi for a major anniversary exhibition marking 500 years since Leonardo da Vinci’s death, but the request was declined. Instead, reports suggested that the painting had been placed on Mohammed bin Salman’s luxury yacht, Serene, where it was to remain until it could be displayed in a planned cultural project in the desert city of al-'Ula.
Want more news like this straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
A comprehensive BBC report, which examines Mohammed bin Salman’s career and features commentary from both his supporters and critics—including former senior security official Saad al-Jabri—now seems to provide new insights into the painting’s location. According to the report, Salvator Mundi is not on the high seas but stored in a secure facility in Geneva. This information comes from Bernard Haykel, a Princeton professor of Middle Eastern studies and a friend of the crown prince, who also mentioned that Mohammed bin Salman plans to display the painting in a museum yet to be built in Riyadh, with the aim of creating an attraction comparable to the Mona Lisa.
See also: Salvator Mundi Goes to Hollywood
Is this the final chapter in the long-running saga of the world’s most expensive painting, or just another twist in its story? The answer likely lies with Mohammed bin Salman, who, for now, remains silent.
