Saudi crown prince was secret buyer of US$450 million Da Vinci painting, claims report citing US intelligence
Prince Mohammed bin Salman used a minor member of the Saudi royal family as a proxy to buy the most expensive artwork ever sold, the report suggests
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the secret buyer of a painting by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci that sold for a record-smashing US$450 million at auction last month, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The young and dynamic crown prince, known by his initials MBS, used an intermediary to buy the much-sought-after painting of Christ, Salvator Mundi, the newspaper reported, citing US intelligence and other unnamed sources.
He is also seen as the mastermind of last month’s rounding-up of more than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen in a sweeping anti-corruption purge.
The painting – one of fewer than 20 works generally accepted as being by the Renaissance master, according to Christie’s – was officially bought by little-known Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, reports say.