In this difficult time, azureazure is here for you. We are committed to helping both our readers and the industries that have been most impacted by the pandemic. Until the crisis is over, we will be publishing relevant content alongside our regular stories, which we hope offer you a few moments of escape. We would like to hear from you. Email us at azure@azureazure.com

Information about the fortunes of living artists is seldom published. Finding these numbers is a complex and sometimes dubious task, because most are not willing to reveal their total income. Despite the difficulties, there are some clues to track important data that reveal how many zeros are in their bank accounts. Although there is no official information related to these confidential numbers, some details of the price of their works at auctions, art galleries and exhibitions open the door for conscientious speculation.

Another factor to consider is that being the wealthiest doesn’t necessarily imply their works are the most expensive on today’s market.How much is Damien Hirst worth? All indications seem to point to Damien Hirst as the best quoted and most acclaimed contemporary artist of our time. The British artist is also an extraordinary entrepreneur, according to the London Telegraph. Some say that, like King Midas, what his hands touch turns to gold. In 2011, The Sunday Times reported that his wealth amounted to $388 million, and today, it is estimated at $1 billion. However, not all sources agree on these facts. According to Wealth-X, a U.S. firm that studies the fortunes of the rich, known as ultra high net worth (UHNW), his net worth is $384 million. If the net figures can be misleading, data about the sales of his creations are not.

In 2008, Hirst sold 223 works from the exhibition Beautiful Inside My Head Forever for $198 million through Sotheby’s, which reached a record of the most expensive auction of works by a single artist.