From McNuggets to Masterpieces: Outrageous Auction Items and Their Jaw-Dropping Prices

The world of auctions often sees extraordinary items fetching unbelievable prices. In 2021, a McDonald's Chicken McNugget resembling an 'Among Us' character sold for nearly $100,000 on eBay, driven by a promotional tie-in with the band BTS. In 2019, Maurizio Catalan's 'Comedian,' a banana duct-taped to a wall, was repurchased for $6.24 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2024 after the rights to the art piece were bought by a Chinese cryptocurrency founder. Vintage cars also command high prices. A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, one of only two ever made, sold for $143 million at a private Sotheby's auction in 2022. Meanwhile, Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvador Mundi' fetched a staggering $450.3 million at Christie's in 2017, despite ongoing debates about its authenticity. Sports memorabilia also sees its share of extravagant spending, with a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card selling for $12.6 million in 2022.