Sheikh Saud Al-Thani’s surprise death (see “Qatar’s Sheikh Saud Died of Complications Related to Heart Condition“) has put a renewed focus on Qatar and the country’s ruling Al-Thani family.

The Sheikh and his many relatives were also some of the world’s biggest art collectors of everything from fine art and vintage cars to rare watches (see “Sheikh Al-Thani’s Watch Sells for $24 Million After His Mysterious Death“). Over the years, in fact, the late Sheikh and his family, Qatar royalty, have spent many billions on art and other collectibles, building an enormous collection that includes the rarest and most magnificent oriental, Islamic, and western contemporary and historical art, as well as an incredibly deep Indian jewelry collection.

Once labelled the “modern-day equivalents of the Medicis,” the family has been applauded for its commitment to collections and the establishment of museums in a region bereft of cultural institutions. They have established the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, I.M Pei’s Islamic Museum of Art, a combined Natural History Museum and Qatar National Library, a Museum of Photography, and a Museum of Clothes & Textiles.

In the wake of the death of Sheikh Saud, at age 48, we thought we would put together a tribute to him listing the top 10 acquisitions that he and the Al-Thani family have acquired. In some cases the prices paid are indeed phenomenal, but what stands out is the diversity of the Sheikh’s interests and undimmed passion for collecting. He was the world’s biggest collector.

1. Paul Cézanne, The Card Players, $250 million

This masterpiece is supposedly the most expensive work ever sold.

2. Mark Rothko, White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender), $72.8 million

This “Rockefeller Rothko” was reportedly purchased by the Al-Thani family at a Sotheby’s auction in May 2007.

3. Andy Warhol, The Men in Her Life, $63. 4 million

Philippe Ségalot reportedly orchestrated the acquisition of Warhol’s 1962 work. It was sold at Phillip’s in New York in November 2010.

4. Fabergé egg, $9.57 million

The egg was bought at a Christie’s auction in New York in 2002.

5. James John Audubon, Birds of America, $8.8 million

The late Sheikh Saud Al-Thani purchased this masterpiece, which at the time was the world’s most expensive book.

6. The Clive of India Flask, $5 million

During Sheikh Saud’s shopping spree in London, he beat London’s V&A museum to purchase the £3m Clive of India flask.

7. Girault de Prangey, The Temple of Jupiter in Athens, $922,490

When Sheikh Saud purchased this photograph in 2003, he set a new record (beating one of his own previous purchases) for the most expensive price paid for a daguerreotype and for a photograph.

8. J. Ezra Merkin’s 11 Rothkos, $310 million

The family supposedly bought 11 Rothko paintings from financier J. Ezra Merkin when he had to liquidate the largest Rothko collection in the world due to his involvement with the Madoff scandal.

9. Werner Bokelberg‘s Photography collection, $15 million

Sheikh Saud in 2000 bought up Bokelberg’s 136 photograph collection which included masterpieces by Man Ray and Alfred Stieglitz.

10. Damien Hirst, Lullaby Spring, $19 million

Damien Hirst’s pill cabinet was purchased in the spring of 2007 at Sotheby’s.

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