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FB Roundup: Drahi, Mulliez, and Vanderbilt

June 19, 2019

Telecoms billionaire Patrick Drahi buys Sotheby’s, Mulliez family buy stake in Kenya’s Twiga Foods, and US heiress Gloria Vanderbilt dies aged 95.

Telecoms billionaire Patrick Drahi buys Sotheby’s

Patrick Drahi, founder and chairman of telecoms giant Altice, is buying Sotheby’s auction house in a deal worth $3.7 billion, taking it private after more than three decades as a public company.

In a statement, New York-based Sotheby’s, which celebrated its 275th anniversary this year, said it had accepted an offer from BidFair USA—Drahi’s holding company.

A brush with greatness: Investors snap up David Bowie’s art collection

November 14, 2016

Almost 2000 international investors and collectors bid at the record-breaking £32.9 million ($41.1 million) sale of David Bowie’s personal art collection.

Almost 2000 international investors and collectors bid at the record-breaking £32.9 million ($41.1 million) sale of David Bowie’s personal art collection.

More than 1750 bidders packed the three sessions for Bowie/Collector which lasted more than a dozen hours at Sotheby’s in London on 10-11 November. The auctions also attracted more than 1000 bidders and more than 26,500 viewers online.

Pin ups: Investing in David Bowie’s artistic heroes

October 31, 2016

Bowie/Collector reveals David Bowie’s taste in art was as inquisitive and eclectic as his music. James Beech finds out why families should consider the opportunities for investment at the upcoming unique auction

David Bowie approached death as just another artistic expression of his life.

The Starman’s curation of his own transcendental legacy from beyond the grave should be a guiding light for other ultra-high net worth individuals consumed with protecting their empires once they are gone.

Pinault family office head to lead Christie’s auction house

December 3, 2014

The French businesswoman who has headed the Pinault family’s investments for the last 25 years has been appointed chief executive of auction house Christie’s, which is wholly owned by the family.

The French businesswoman who has headed the Pinault family’s investments for the last 25 years has been appointed chief executive of auction house Christie’s, which is wholly owned by the family.

Patricia Barbizet will replace Steven Murphy as chief executive, following his surprise departure announced this week by Christie’s and effective from the year’s end.

Bidding 24/7: The world of online art auctions

April 3, 2014

Forget attending packed auctions and phone bids, buying a top-end collectible is now just a click away.

In December of 2012 Edward Hopper’s painting October on Cape Cod (pictured, below right) was sold at auction by Christie’s for $9.6 million (€7.1 million). Nothing unusual about that, you might say. But the buyer wasn’t in the room, and not even on the end of a phone, but watching the auction live through an online stream. That is, so far, the most that anybody has paid for a painting while bidding over the internet.

Speculative art

October 17, 2013

This summer big brand artists continued to set records at the major auction houses. But like all passion investments, art occupies a grey area between investment and lifestyle asset, so what role can it play in a family office’s portfolio?

A corker – if you’re lucky...

March 1, 2004

Wine has long been a popular collectible and investment – but do nothing without competent advice in this expert’s market, says Melanie Stern

Melanie Stern is Section Editor of Families in Business magazine.

Wine has long been a popular collectible and investment – but do nothing without competent advice in this expert's market, says Melanie Stern

When one thinks of wine, images of wealthy chateaux owners in southern France springs to mind, walking barefoot over slate kitchen floors, a cellar-full of vintage Bordeaux quietly gathering dust.