If you are getting divorced, best it be from a real estate tycoon with $922 million in art works

Take out your pom poms and give a shout-out to real estate tycoon Harry Macklowe and his ex-wife Linda, who is said to have an “incomparable eye” for trophy-name modern and contemporary works of art. This week they finalized the second cache of the private Macklowe Collection grossing a total of $922 million eclipsing the previous record of $835 million held by the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection. 

Why did the Macklowes sell after more than 60 years of collecting? Turns out these two previous lovebirds couldn’t come to terms on how to divide their wealth so Judge Laura Drager decided for them, mandating the sale of their collection via public auction. And what a sale it was…for art aficionados (and even you dilettantes), the sale included works by Mark Rothko, Alberto Giacometti, Andy Warhol and de Kooning. Despite a market shift placing a premium on female artists and ones of color, this collection comprised works solely of canonical white male artists (looks like Harry and Linda aren’t PC-motivated when buying their masterpieces).

In the art market like “the spare parts market—works are hard to find and very expensive.” Upset by the sale of his prized works, not Harry, who said he was “thrilled by it…everybody endorsing the choices…made over the last 65 years.” What a good sport, we love you Harry.

Reyburn, Scott, and Robin Pogrebin. “The Macklowe Collection Tops $922 Million at Auction.” The New York Times, 17 May 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/arts/design/macklowe-collectors-sothebys-art-warhol-richter.html.