Portrait of Philip Niarchos

Rank #1496

Philip Niarchos

Net worth $2.8B

Art collection · Greece

Born
Jan 01, 1954
Age
72
Source
Art collection
Residence
Paris
Citizenship
Greece
Marital status
Married
Children
4
Education

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Philip Niarchos, the oldest son of the late shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, inherited much of his father's art collection.
  • The collection was purchased in 1957 for $3 million from actor Edward G. Robinson and includes some of the world's most recognizable pieces.
  • It is said to be the largest private collection of Van Gogh's work, notably his ear-less self portrait, and includes Picasso's iconic "Yo, Picasso."
  • Since inheriting the collection, Philip has added post-war and contemporary works, including pieces by Andy Warhol and Maurizio Cattelan.
  • Andy Warhol rendered CAT scans of Philip's head into a series of paintings called Philip's Skull, completed in 1985.
  • In 1982 Philip bought a self-portrait by Haitian-American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat for a then-record $3.3 million.