There’s a sea of art masterpieces the public eye can’t see, which are privately owned by the most affluent of collectors and remarked by only a select few. Among them are celebrities like musician Alicia Keys and her husband, music impresario known as Swizz Beatz, whose art-world footprint is only rising. The following insights shouldn’t take anyone by surprise – luminaries have long been distinguished and well-known for the overgenerous art collections owned and thrifty lifestyles led, among other things like over-the-top homes and luxury cars. But when it comes to art, the return on investment generated seems to overtake other, already-mentioned categories. As a quick refresher, the art collection of one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians, David Bowie, was sold for around $40.8MN after he passed away. Now, we have numerous artists from more walks of life, including film-making and record-producing, who splurge massively on outstanding outwork – for a reason.
Art often appreciates in time – or as time passes- in many cases. On the other hand, artists invest in art for numerous reasons, some personal and others benevolent. However, why exactly are high-profile individuals like the ones you’ll discover below spending fortunes on art? In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into some of the most extravagant celebrity art collections and discovering some of the art creators had in common.
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Sir Elton John
Did you know that Sir Elton John has one of the most extensive private photography collections ever, consisting of over 7K prints? This isn’t the artist’s single foray into art—he began collecting artworks in the early 1990s but turned to photography exclusively a year later.
As one of the best-paid UK musicians, he purchased Man Ray’s Glass Tears (1932) for over $190K, breaking the record for the costliest photograph ever bought at that time. The luminary’s collection consists of artworks from a varied range of artists, from Diane Arbus to Cindy Sherman to Ai Weiwei and William Eggleston.
The artist’s appreciation for Banksy is well-known and emphasized when he agreed to perform at the artist’s inauguration of the “Walled Off Hotel” in Bethlehem. After that, he bought the Flower Thrower Triptych art straight from the creator. When the icon transitioned the art residing in his ex-Atlanta residence to auction last year, Banksy’s iconic triad stole the light from the rest of the artworks, selling for almost $2MN and becoming the auction’s priciest deal.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Most people love Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz for their musical masterpieces, but few know that the power couple are fervent art collectors. The rap producer, by his name Kasseem Dean, and his wife, winner of over 270 awards, own over a thousand artworks. These accumulations’ prices are in the range of millions. So, how did their active commitment impact the art world? In short, their actions have smoothed the path for a generation of Black art collectors to emerge as influential art owners.
If you aspire to become a successful art collector, Alicia’s heartfelt advice for newcomers and veterans who want to improve their legacy is to collect art simply because “it’s personal” – and it couldn’t make more sense. Becoming good at something necessitates true passion for the activity in question, be it cooking food, making music, or collecting fine art prints for sale. Such a journey doesn’t even have to be straining or challenging if you have deep introspection to find out what you like. Alicia Keys has been devoted to contemporary art for years and has built excellent knowledge in the domain that won her the respect of the greatest collectors. This type of art can take boundless forms and transmit hair-raising emotions, so given the numerous quality contemporary art for sale online, you should find it exciting to discover your own soft spot.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt’s collection is thought to be valued at more than $25MN and consists of sculptures, paintings, photography, and other masterpieces from some of the best artists worldwide. Over two decades, the actor has assembled this vast collection with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. Banksy is yet another favorite for Pitt, too, who bought pieces worth $200K from the street artist’s LA exhibition “Barely Legal”. The following year, the high-power couple spent over $1.20MN at a London auction for an entire collection of the guerilla artist. In 2012, news broke that the A-listers were among the few ones fortunate enough to persuade Banksy to produce an exclusive commissioned piece for them.
This single artwork’s topic is the Katrina Hurricane—the cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and $ 125BN worth of damages in 2005. The public is unaware who got to keep the artwork after the artists’ breakup and the over 8 years of legal fight, but what’s for sure is that they won’t be sold any time soon.
Steve Cohen
American holder of the NY Mets of Major League Baseball and CEO of Point72 Asset Management, Steve Cohen, is reported worth 21.3BN in 2025 – a figure twice as significant as any other MLB owner’s wealth. Of it, $1BN is estimated to lie in its artwork collection. The business tycoon began amassing art in 2000, and to date, he and his wife Alexandra have funneled that amount to build an assembly that includes works from Pablo Picasso, Any Warhol, Willem de Kooning, and Jeff Koons.
The luminary is known for following his hunch when evaluating and buying art. For instance, he purchased L’Homme au doigt by Alberto Giacometti for $141.3MN at an auction, becoming the “secret buyer” of the priciest sculpture worldwide at that point and holding the record for a long time.
Steven also sold a Warhol Mao for $47MN in 2015, and five years later, purchased the New York Mets and launched giveaways, including art-inspired prizes for fans.
Parting words
More celebrities are known to be massive art collectors and the reasons behind their undertakings vary. What one can draw from these stories is that oftentimes, going with the artworks that kindle an interior spark is one of the most rewarding choices art collectors can make. From a return-on-investment point of view, good knowledge is one of the best allies. Enjoy the ride!
