Forbes Annual Billion Dollar Art Collectors List: Niarchos Geffen Cohen Grethers + 10 Others

by Joseph K. Levene & Robert Grunder

Forbes confirms 14 art collectors on the magazine's famous billion dollar list, including:

Philip Niarchos

Mr. Niarchos, is the son of Stavros Niarchos, the late shipping magnate. Forbes shows that Niarchos has the most valuable art collection, estimated to be worth least $2 billion; the collection includes these icons:

• Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear
• Pablo Picasso Yo Picasso
• Andy Warhol Shot Red Marilyn

Esther Grether

According to Forbes, Ms. Grether's art collection valued in excess of $1 billion; includes 600 works; artists include Paul Cezanne, Salvador Dali and Francis Bacon. The only woman on the Forbes list, Ms. Grether is a Swiss cosmetics heiress with a 7.5% stake in Swatch Watch.

Jasper Johns Target With Plaster Casts

David Geffen

Included on Forbes billionaire list even though Mr. Geffen realized $420 million from the 2006 sale of four paintings, including:

• $80 million for Jasper Johns False Start, purchased by Kenneth Griffin
• $63.5 million for Willem de Kooning's Police Gazette
• $137 million for Willem de Kooning' s Woman III, sold to Steve Cohen.

Mr. Geffen still retains a vast art collection with important Works of Art by Jasper Johns and Willem de Kooning including Johns' seminal icon Target with Plaster Casts, purchased from Leo Castelli.

Steven Cohen

Forbes estimates Mr. Cohen's art collection at about $750 million.

Mr. Cohen, who owns SAC Capital, purchased a stake in Sotheby's earlier this year, proven to be a good investment as Sotheby's share price has substantially increased since Cohen took a major position in the firm.

The complete Forbes List with highlights by Art Collector.