World-famous paintings are one of the most expensive artifacts an art collector can buy. Many of them are valued at hundreds of millions of dollars – or the same price as an entire publicly-traded company.
For instance, did you know Edvard Munch’s The Scream, at $123.7 million, is worth the same as the total market cap of a multi-national energy company? Vincent Van Gogh’s Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers is one of the most famous paintings in the world, but do you know what company you could buy with the same money?
Equities.com picked out some most expensive works of art in the world and matched them to the corresponding company it most closely resembled in price. Enjoy!
$83.9 million: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers (Vincent Van Gogh)
Equivalent: TransAct Technologies Incorporated (TACT)
You might not know the name, but this company manufactures several well-known printers. TransAct Technologies Incorporated is based in Hamden, Connecticut, and designs, assembles, manufactures and sells transaction printers worldwide under names of the Epic, Ithaca, BANKjet and Printrex.
$115.7 million: Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (Pablo Picasso)
Equivalent: Rick's Cabaret International Inc. (RICK)
Rick's Cabaret International, Inc. is a Houston, Texas- based company that operates nightclubs that offer adult entertainment, dining and bar services in big cities in the United States. As of the end of June 2014, Rick's had 43 locations across the United States.
$123.7 million: The Scream (Edvard Munch)
Equivalent: Synthesis Energy System, Inc. (SYMX)
Syntheses Energy System, Inc. is a global energy and gasification technology company that provides world-class solutions to energy and chemical industries.
$130.6 million: Garçon àla pipe (Pablo Picasso)
Equivalent: Century Casinos Inc. (CNTY)
Century Casino Inc. operates casinos and related entertainment facilities worldwide. It was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
$151.4 million: Portrait of Dr. Gachet (Vincent van Gogh)
Equivalent: Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. (PSUN)
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, Pacific Sunwear of California sells brands of California-lifestyle casual clothing and accessories designed for teenagers and young adults. As of the end of May, 2013 PacSun operated 619 stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
$157.9 million: Le Rêve (Pablo Picasso)
Equivalent: Access National Corp. (ANCX)
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Access National Corporation is the bank holding company for the Access National Bank chain that provides banking and investment services to small and medium companies. Its primary customers were in the greater Washington, D.C Metropolitan Area.
$273 million: The Card Players (Paul Cézanne)
Equivalent: Perry Ellis International Inc. (PERY)
The most expensive painting in the world is worth the same as the entire Perry Ellis clothing company. Perry Ellis International Inc. is based in Florida, and engages in designing, sourcing, marketing and licensing apparel products.
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