A million dollars is a lot of money for most people, especially when it’s spent on a single item. However, the paintings on this list are worth even more to the collectors who bought them, mostly at auctions—in some cases, a whole lot more. Surprisingly, these multi-million-dollar works of art, many of which are not
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“Sex sells” is a saying that is as old as your grandma. You know the centerfolds and pictures designed to let the imagination run a little wild. For decades, sales have thrived on sexual fantasy. But in the dot-com era, people now have the option to make their fantasies a reality. As my brother-in-law says,
Cryptocurrency. Some say that crypto technology is revolutionizing the modern world. Others dismiss it as a flash in the pan fad doomed to collapse. The anonymous digital coins aren’t tied to any state or government or physical commodity, which is why die-hard crypto fans love them so much, and why many countries are trying to
Over the millennia, religions have behaved like organisms. They’ve interbred, evolved, gone extinct, and been replaced by newer rivals. Even the staunchest of religions with their sacred texts (literally) set in stone have mutated over the years, morphing and adapting to new societies, politics, and philosophies. This flexibility has led to tension between competing ideologies,
Music unites people, but it can also be incredibly divisive. Especially on a platform such as Listverse, which is visited by a wide variety of people, all with their own valid opinion on what constitutes good music. Some prefer rock and hate pop; others might go the opposite direction or even choose classical music above
Having a cult following as a celebrity doesn’t always imply Charles Manson and Jim Jones. Sometimes it just means that you have a loyal group of fans who love to see everything you’re in. Why? Because you’re quirky, good at what you do (unless you’re Tommy Wiseau), probably have something to do with science fiction
Scotland is a small country, but its impact on the global stage has been massive, particularly when it comes to inventions. With a population of only 5.47 million people (less than the population of Minnesota), you might be surprised to learn just how many inventions came from Scottish minds. Well-known Scottish inventors include Alexander Graham
Christmas is a time of kindness and charity. It’s the season of giving, and there are now more ways to give than ever. Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or no holiday at all, this cold, dark time of year is an excellent occasion to spread warmth far and wide. This year, instead of exchanging
Marketing is a tricky game. A lot of brands aren’t really selling anything anybody needs. A lot of promotion is about selling yourself as a company rather than the product you produce. This means brands have got to stay relevant, and they need to pull wacky stunts so that we notice them. Mostly, these huge
Swears are fun and all, but, similar to what Cookie Monster says about cookies, “They are sometimes words.” Now, of course, every family and social situation is different—some people don’t care if the F-bomb is their child’s first word or if sh–t is uttered by students. But generally speaking, we refrain from swearing in front
We’ve all heard at least one ghost story in our lifetime. It seems that everyone and every place has come in contact with the paranormal. Statistically, around 45% of Americans believe in ghosts, and as many as 18% of the American population says they’ve actually come in contact with a spirit. That’s a pretty significant
Japan is an ancient country full of deep traditions and strong cultural values. Christmas is a newcomer to the country, with most Christmas practices starting in the 20th century. With no religious ties to the holiday, the Japanese people looked at Western traditions and chose which parts of the season they wanted to copy. The
Everyone loves a good story, whether factual or fictitious. This is why popular authors sell and why people love poring over history books. Earth itself has a fascinating history, and so do the 195 countries that dot our blue and white spinning globe. Inside these countries are several places with their own unique history and
Roller coasters are still heralded as one of the easiest and safest ways for adrenaline junkies to get their fix. Whether they’re hitting 100+ mph speeds or ascending lift hills higher than 300 ft., it’s very easy to find excitement in these wonders of engineering. However, sometimes it’s too expensive to break the height or
Pretty soon we will get the opportunity to share gifts and tasty food with our loved ones, bathed in the multicolored hues of twinkling lights wrapped around a fir tree…Christmas is weird when you think about it. Wonderfully weird. Whether you are religious or not, one unifying ritual that most of the world still enjoys
Cave diving is insane. That may be the shortest and most subjective opening sentence in Listverse history, but it is also supported by a mountain of evidence. A gruesome, water-logged, decaying, lightless mountain of evidence, scattered and wedged into thousands of cramped, jagged chambers beneath the Earth. Combining the isolation and desolation of cave exploring
The brain is a remarkable part of the human body. It is believed that the human brain can generate about 23 watts of electrical power, which would be enough to light a small lightbulb. Even though there are some amazing facts about the brain, there is still so much that we are still trying to
More than any other artistic medium, video games are constantly reinventing themselves. Every week, developers release a new game with its own unique controls, goals, and interface. The movie experience, on the other hand, is one-size-fits-all; if you know how to watch Alice make her way through Wonderland, and you’ll do just fine watching Freddy
Storage unit auctions became popularized with the TV show Storage Wars. Of course, there were so many crazy weird things that were shown on Storage Wars, but having grown up in a family business that depended on the contents of storage units and estate sales, I saw the reality of this business model. Here are
One of the best aspects of modern society and its extensive interconnectedness is that like-minded people can meet more easily than ever. Thanks to the internet, entire communities that might never have met previously have formed and evolved into organizations. There are conventions, festivals, and expos for almost everything you can think of. For most