Top 15 Most Expensive Thing in the World

Are diamonds the most expensive objects in the universe? Not even close. You’re not going to believe how valuable some of these things are. Do you know there are many of the most expensive things in the world? We have compiled a short list of the 15 most expensive things that are most expensive at this time.

Check out this list of the 15 most expensive things in the world.

Top 15 Most Expensive Thing in the World

15. Pinner Qing Dynasty Vase

• Price: $80.2 million
• Why Expensive: Rare artifact from the Qing Dynasty.
• Unique Features: Intricate designs and historical significance.
• Additional Point: One of the few remaining vases from this period.

This extraordinary, rare find dates back to the late 17th and 18th centuries and belongs to one of China’s most successful dynasties. Valued at 83 million dollars, this Chinese porcelain vase is the world’s most expensive vase.

The Pinner Qing Dynasty vase was picked up by an explorer uncle in the late 1920s and has been a family decoration until the real price and value of the vase were revealed. Now, after several auctions and reselling, this extraordinary colorful porcelain vase belongs to an unnamed Chinese industrialist.

14. Leonardo da Vinci Codex Leicester

• Price: $30.8 million
• Why Expensive: Written by Leonardo da Vinci.
• Unique Features: Contains scientific writings and sketches.
• Additional Point: Owned by Bill Gates.

What was once Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscript full of the scientist’s ideas, sketches, and diagrams now belongs to the billionaire and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The Codex Leicester is a manuscript that dates back to the 16th century.

The software engineer is said to have bought it for an impressive thirty-point eight million dollars. This 72-page notebook is a rare glimpse inside da Vinci’s mind, with mirror image-style writing and old Italian. This codex is truly a one-of-a-kind object in the universe.

13. Ru Ware Brush Washer Bowl

• Price: $37.7 million
• Why Expensive: Extremely rare Chinese ceramic.
• Unique Features: Unique glaze and historical value.
• Additional Point: Only a few dozen pieces exist.

Take a guess at how much this nine hundred-year-old ceramic bowl is worth, and you will still be short a few million. The Ru Ware Brush Washer Bowl is a classic example of Chinese ornate art.

The turquoise delicate vessel with its signature ice crack open was sold after a 20-minute bidding war that ended up valuing the bowl at a shocking 37 point seven million dollars. This little dish is 5 inches or 13 centimeters in diameter and is thought to be extraordinarily rare and virtually unobtainable.

12. Gutenberg Bible

• Price: $35 million
• Why Expensive: First major book printed using movable type.
• Unique Features: Historical significance and rarity.
• Additional Point: Only 49 copies are known to exist.

The Gutenberg Bible is one of the finest examples of the earliest book printings in the world. Printed by Johannes Gutenberg in present-day Germany in 1450, this historic Bible remains one of the most expensive books in the world.

While there are only 49 Bibles known to exist, only 21 are complete. For years, collectors from all over the world have been trying to piece together the incomplete pages one by one, and all the complete works are displayed in museums and libraries. It is thought to cost around 25 to 35 million dollars.

11. Patek Philippe Pocket Watch

• Price: $24 million
• Why Expensive: Highly intricate and rare timepiece.
• Unique Features: Complex mechanisms and craftsmanship.
• Additional Point: Known as the “Henry Graves Supercomplication.”

One pocket watch that broke its own record at auction is the Patek Philippe pocket watch, which sold at a staggering twenty-four million dollars. This pocket watch is the most expensive timepiece in the world. Its intricate detailing.

Accents make this Patek Philippe super-complicated piece a must-have for any watch enthusiast or aficionado. Weighing about a pound in gold, the movements inside the watch are produced from three stacked layers that are joined to create a stunning display.

10. Pink Blue Enamel Moon Flasks

• Price: $33.8 million
• Why Expensive: Rare and exquisite Chinese artifacts.
• Unique Features: Beautiful pink and blue enamel designs.
• Additional Point: Only a few pairs exist in the world.

Chinese porcelain has established a name for extraordinary beauty and value, and the pink, blue, white enamel moon flask is no exception. This superb example of Imperial Qianlong porcelain has a price tag of 16 million dollars. Its outstanding artistry and six-character seal mark date back to the 18th century, when the Qianlong Emperor, the sixth of the Qing dynasty, ruled over China.

With a white shade at its base, intricate blue dragon-like shapes diverge all throughout the Moon flask. A sweeping pink Phoenix grabs the viewer’s attention as their center placement makes a powerful statement like no other. This 19-inch or 49-centimeter-high porcelain art has two dragon squirrel handles on each side, giving the piece a perfect finish from bottom to top.

What makes this Moon flask stand out are its contrasting colors. Not only is the quality of the painting skills exceptional, but a combination of rich underglaze cobalt blue and enamel pink is extremely effective and flattering to the eye. Only a few porcelain pieces are decorated in colors and techniques, and that’s why this truly extraordinary moon flask is worth every penny.

9. Elizabeth Taylor’s Necklace

• Price: $11.8 million
• Why Expensive: Owned by the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor.
• Unique Features: Contains a 16th-century pearl known as “La Peregrina.”
• Additional Point: Designed by Cartier.

One cannot discuss the universe’s most expensive and valuable things without mentioning the La Peregrina pearl necklace. Originally designed for the classic Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, this pearl necklace was made by Cartier, one of the world’s finest and most coveted jewelry companies.

This amazing 16th-century piece of jewelry was purchased by Richard Burton in 1969 and remains one of the greatest gifts. The fifty-point, six-carat La Peregrina pearl is one of the most famous pearls in the world, and its history spans more than 500 years. Before the Hollywood actress was the proud owner of this piece, it was thought to have its start with King Philip II of Spain back in the 1500s.

After numerous owners and world leaders, it became James Hamilton’s family staple. Eventually, it was sold in 1969, and that’s when Burton bought La Peregrina pearl for just $37,000. Years later, Elizabeth Taylor commissioned Cartier to redesign the jewelry, and the historic pearl was then surrounded by diamonds and rubies all around.

Finally, the story ends in 2011 when the necklace sold for more than eleven million dollars at Elizabeth Taylor’s collection auction at Christie’s in New York. That day at the auction, two records were broken: one for the historic pearl and another for the highest valued pearl jewelry to ever be sold at auction.

8. Double Eagle Coin

• Price: $18.9 million
• Why Expensive: Rare U.S. gold coin from 1933.
• Unique Features: Only a few coins were ever released to the public.
• Additional Point: Considered one of the most valuable coins in the world.

Collectors from all walks of life try to find the rarest items with the highest values. While many failed during several attempts, once in a while, a piece comes along that shocks the world with its incredible price and historic value. This rare 1933 double eagle is just that piece of art.

Back when coins had more than a dollar value, this incredible $20 double eagle is the most expensive gold coin to ever be sold at auction or amongst collectors. With only 13 coins in the world that display an eagle on both sides, this incredible gold coin has a value of 7.6 million dollars. With a mass of just 33 grams at one point three inches in diameter, this double eagle antique comes with an interesting story.

-Collected and stolen by the illicit coin dealer family of Israel Switt, this 7.9 million dollar piece was discovered in 2005 by the Secret Service, and after meticulous investigations, it was found to be a genuine 1933 double eagle coin. As the price tag of this small object was so extraordinary, many have tried to replicate its value and beauty. While the concept of designs was similar in the copies, many details were inconsistent.

7. Napoleon’s Sword

• Price: $6.5 million
• Why Expensive: Belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Unique Features: Historical significance and craftsmanship.
• Additional Point: Used in several battles.

-Napoleon Bonaparte was one of history’s greatest emperors and military leaders. Considered to be one of the greatest commanders in the world, his European domination and global affairs are now known as the Napoleonic Wars, and his war tactics are studied in military schools across the globe. The gold-encrusted sword is an antique piece of military weaponry that Napoleon wore into battle in Italy.

This legendary sword was sold for 6.4 million dollars at the Fontainebleau auction in Paris and is said to be the last of Napoleon’s swords that ended up in private hands. This particular piece is more than 200 years old and broke the record as the highest piece of Napoleon memorabilia to have ever been sold. This intricately decorated blade is just under 40 inches or 100 centimeters in length and has its signature gentle curve at the top.

Its design and signature curve leave the impression that it must have been attained during Napoleon’s Egyptian adventures. Historians think that the French general used this exact weapon during the Marengo battle in June of 1801. The battle he gave the sword to his brother as a wedding gift, and it has been passed down through the family generations ever since. And while the sword was declared to be a national treasure in 1978, this 6.4 million dollar piece of art was sold in 2007 to a foreign buyer.

6. William Shakespeare’s Signature

• Price: $5 million
• Why Expensive: Extremely rare autograph of the famous playwright.
• Unique Features: Only six known signatures exist.
• Additional Point: Highly sought after by collectors.

When William Shakespeare is mentioned, the mind naturally goes to his iconic plays and sonnets, which, to this day, are still an important part of the English language and literature. The mind behind 39 plays, over 150 sonnets, and two long narrative poems is mostly known for Hamlet, Othello, and the world-famous Romeo and Juliet. His standard poetic form is composed of iambic pentameter, and his verbal dexterity is unmatched by any other great writer in the world.

So it doesn’t come as a shock that the English poet’s signature would be worth a lot. It is estimated that only six Shakespeare signatures still exist in the universe today. All are found on four separate legal documents that date back to 1612 and 1616, the last four years of his life. Said to be priceless if ever sold at auctions, each signature would cost around five million dollars, making them the most valuable and expensive autographs in the world.

Three of the documents are kept in the National Archives, while the last remains as part of the permanent collection of the British Museum. If you take a closer look at the six separate signatures, you can see how the name and writing differ each time. Historians have confirmed that all of these autographs are genuine and real, but that the writer must have suffered from a tremor during his last few years on earth.

Each piece of writing shows distinctive characteristics that clearly showcase Shakespeare’s creativity and style. The case and his last name stay the same throughout the legal document, while his long last name was often shortened to just “Shak,” a common abbreviation style in the early 17th century. His signatures are not just small autographs with the writer’s name on them; they carry a story and represent an important part of history.

5. Crystal Piano

• Price: $3.2 million
• Why Expensive: Made entirely of crystal.
• Unique Features: Stunning visual appeal and sound quality.
• Additional Point: Used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

If you’ve ever wanted to play a beautiful piece of classical music on a clear glass-like piano and have a spare 3.2 million dollars, then the Heintzman Crystal Piano is a perfect choice for you. Heintzman and Company is a Canadian piano manufacturing company that has been making groundbreaking instruments since the 1860s.

This record-breaking piano, worth more than three million dollars, was first introduced to the world during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and is said to be the world’s most expensive and valuable piano. Living up to its name, this grand piano is a futuristic masterpiece entirely made from crystal and was exclusively built for large concert hall performances.

The instrument was played by the world-famous pianist Lang Lang during the 2008 Olympic Games but is said to have been sold to an anonymous bidder ever since. And while the Kawai transparent and silver piano has come close to the Heintzman instrument in terms of its design and overall style, nothing can compare to the world-breaking 3.2 million-dollar Heintzman Crystal Piano.

4. Honus Wagner

• Price: $3.12 million
• Why Expensive: Rare baseball card from the early 1900s.
• Unique Features: Limited production and historical value.
• Additional Point: Considered the “Holy Grail” of baseball cards.

If you’re an avid sports card collector, take a quick look around your collection because one day you might stumble upon a card that is worth much, much more than you can possibly imagine. This world’s most expensive card is the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, that was ultimately sold for 3.12 million dollars at an auction.

This iconic card was printed between 1909 and 1910 by the American Tobacco Company. This top-quality, mint-condition antique has reached such mythical proportions that it’s often called “The Card.” While many Hollywood stars, moguls, and business executives wanted to own a legendary card, this rare item has a controversial history and origin.

It was estimated that around 60 to 200 of these cards were printed back in the early 1900s, and while many genuine copies still exist to this day, only replicas and fake editions have been resurfacing in the modern era. Not only are its origins a topic of controversy and debate, but its unusual size is also remarkable and noteworthy.

It’s often regarded as the “Jumbo Wagner,” and its proportions defy the typical T206 cards, being slightly larger than the rest. This Wagner piece of memorabilia was actually miscut during production, not only making its height larger but also giving it thicker borders. Due to its atypical proportions, this particular Honus Wagner attracted a lot of media attention that questioned its authenticity and actual value.

3. Bluefin Tuna

• Price: $3.1 million
• Why Expensive: Highly prized for its quality and taste.
• Unique Features: Large size and rich flavor.
• Additional Point: Often sold at auctions in Japan.

While most canned tunas can be bought at the supermarket for less than ten bucks, one species of tuna is so rare and extraordinary that its price rises well above a couple of million. Bluefin tuna are the largest tuna species in the world and are the finest delicacy used in sushi and sashimi. During the 2019 Tokyo market, this species of tuna sold for a jaw-dropping 3.1 million dollars.

Naturally driven by such high prices, fishermen all over the world do incredible things and use advanced technologies for a chance to catch rare fish. This particular 612-pound or 278-kilogram bluefin tuna was displayed at the 2019 Tokyo auction and was bought by the Kimura Corporation, whose owner runs the Sushi Zanmai chain.

And while the rare fish has always had a high price and extraordinary value, the owner admits that he may have paid over budget for this particular piece. “The tuna looks so tasty and very fresh, but I think I did too much,” he said. This bluefin tuna was caught in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture and is the best quality of tuna in the world. But why exactly is the bluefin tuna so expensive and valuable?

One factor that determines its price is its rarity in nature. There are only three known species of bluefin, and unfortunately, these fish don’t breed well. The three-million-dollar fish has a distinct flavor, texture, and complexity that is purely unmatched by the types of canned tuna found in supermarket aisles.

2. Treskilling Yellow Stamp

• Price: $2.3 million
• Why Expensive: Rare Swedish postage stamp.
• Unique Features: Unique color error.
• Additional Point: Only one known to exist.

While postage stamps cost less than a dollar at most, one extraordinary 1855 stamp has defied any value in price. Known as the Treskilling Yellow Stamp, this Swedish postage stamp is not only the most expensive of its kind, but it is also the only one known to exist. What makes this postage stamp so incredibly valuable is its color.

While the three-skilling stamps printed were normally blue-green shades, this 2.3 million-dollar piece came out as yellow-orange. To this day, it’s not known exactly what went wrong during the printing process, but most historians and collectors believe it was due to the stereotype of the printing machine being damaged or broken somehow.

This mistake was overlooked, and by 1858, the Swedish currency was changed along with the stamps. Even though this mutant of a stamp was meant for the trash, in 1886, a young collector named Georg Wilhelm discovered this gem while rifling through his grandmother’s attic. Now, decades after its initial discovery, the stamp has changed hands and owners several times, from the 1920s to the late 1980s and more recently in 2010.

This Treskilling Yellow Stamp has only increased in rarity and price. The auction house originally valued the stamp at 1.5 million dollars, but it was ultimately sold to an unknown bidder for 2.3 million, who now owns the world’s only Treskilling Yellow Stamp.

1. One Thousand Dollar Bill

• Price: $2.04 million
• Why Expensive: Rare U.S. currency note.
• Unique Features: Limited circulation and historical value.
• Additional Point: Highly sought after by collectors.

One might think that a thousand-dollar bill will cost as much as its value, so one thousand dollars, but that’s where you’d be wrong. One particular $1,000 bill sold at a stunning 2.04 million dollars. Dating back to the 19th century, this dollar bill is called the “Holy Grail of Paper Money” and was sold at an auction in Baltimore.

The 1890 Treasury note is dubbed the “Grand Watermelon” due to its large green zeros on the back of the bill, while the front displayed Major General George Meade, who was the commander of the Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg. There are only seven Grand Watermelon notes to exist in the 21st century. This unique object is one of the rarest and most sought-after pieces of American paper currency.

aWhile three are in private collections, the rest are still yet to be discovered or brought back into the limelight. The United States first introduced paper currency in 1861. Because the U.S. never demonetized its currency, the bill is technically still legal and can be used by its face value. But why buy something for $1,000 when you can sell it for well over millions?

Top 10 Most Expensive Thing in the World

Sure! Here’s a detailed table of the Top 15 Most Expensive Things in the World in 2024:

I hope you find this table helpful! If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask.

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