$500 Million on Basquiat: One Billionaire’s Buying Spree
February 4, 2026
One collector. One artist. Nearly $500 million spent. Citadel founder Ken Griffin has reportedly been acquiring Jean-Michel Basquiat works at an unprecedented scale — including a $35M private sale and earlier $100M+ purchases. As major works disappear into private collections, the Basquiat market keeps accelerating. Is this smart collecting — or market distortion?
Works by Jean-Michel Basquiat
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Great Wind of Sphenoid, from Anatomy
Untitled 4 (from Leonardo)
In Color
M
Female Pelvis, Back View, from Anatomy
Untitled 1, from The Figure Portfolio
Left Side of Lower Jaw, from Anatomy
Flash In Naples, from Superhero Portfolio
Right Humerus, from Anatomy
Leg Of A Dog
50 Cent Piece
Per Capita, from Portfolio I
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