What Do You Do With $66 Million Dollars Of Stolen Portraits?
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
United States
March 1, 2007 5:17pm CST
Burglars slipped into the Paris apartment of Pablo Picasso's granddaughter and took two portraits worth an estimated $66 million dollars.
Art experts say that any work by Picasso is very hard to sell because it's so well-known.
It's not like the thieves can put them on E-bay. So my question is this.
What do you do with $66 million dollars of stolen portraits? What kind of person would be interested in buying them? Do you think any two portraits could really be worth $66 million dollars.
And last but not least, what in the world was his granddaughter doing with $66 million dollars worth of portraits in her apartment? Is she nuts?
Lloyd
4 people like this
10 responses
@clownfish (3269)
• United States
2 Mar 07
Hi! If I were her, I guess I'd want to have some of my grandpa's paintings, but you're right, a print would do so that the actual paintings could be kept safe somewhere else. Maybe she just didn't think that anyone would guess that she had two of the paintings in her possession. It's sad - I'll bet she's just heartbroken. I'm sure there are plenty of underground ways to smuggle and sell stolen art - there have been for years. I feel terrible for the family!
1 person likes this
@clownfish (3269)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I agree completely! Something that valuable and treasured should not have been kept in an apartment. :-)
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
2 Mar 07
Not only would it have been better to be kept somewhere else and just have a print, there are many other things that could have happened.
There's always the possibility of a house fire resulting in either the paintings being burned or having water damage or some nut might want to harm grandpa's paintings.
Keeping in her apartment was a bad decision.
Lloyd
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
1 Mar 07
hahaha she might have thought they were safe there with all this security system in place (or did she not have them installed?) after all they are perfect pride and confidence boosters - hey Pablo's my grand dad, so she said to neighbours and friends!
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
1 Mar 07
They did have an alarm system, but the burglars disabled it.
You might be right. She might have had them there to show off for her friends.
I would have settled for a print of Grand Dad's paintings.
Lloyd
@kpfingaz (1027)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
24 Mar 07
Yeah I was wondering the same thing about her having $66 million worth of paintings in her ....did you say apartment?
As for selling them, you know how they do it in the movies. Maybe they already have someone who is going to buy them meaning that there is someone with a whole lot of money who may be in on it. Or maybe its just someone who is obsessed by Picasso's work and wants the paintings.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
25 Mar 07
To be honest, some of Picasso's works looks pretty crazy to me. But maybe some people are obsessed with that kind of art.
And yes, she did have $66 million dollars worth of paintings hanging in her apartment.
I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
Lloyd
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
4 Mar 07
WOW! This is amazing to say the least. I have a lot of artist friends and believe me they are all very odd people. They are all very proud of their work and think everything they paint is priceless. I can not imagine 2 portraits being worth this amount. They may be worth this amount stolen, but what are they worth found? LOL Glad to hear there are as many stupid people in Paris as the US. She must have thought no one would even think the portraits were worth anything. Yes I feel sure she was nuts.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I can't imagine a two painting worth $66 million dollars either.
I would have kept it in a safe and just hung a good quality print in the apartment.
Lloyd
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
There is a running underground market for stolen goods of high value. The participants are billionaires in their own right. If these items are to be sold underground, a painting of Picasso can pick more than a hundred million dollars apiece. It may be beyond our understanding why these rich people will buy these items for such a high price and they cannot even display nor claim its ownership. But they are doing it, the pleasure alone of knowing that they have these items in their possession is honor enough for them.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
24 Mar 07
You are right. It is beyond my understanding. It's just amazing how much money some people have.
Lloyd
@melindagr9 (143)
• United States
6 Mar 07
The granddaughter was a little crazy to have that unsecured in her apartment. I imagine the burglars could sell the portraits on the black market. In the movies they always do this. I guess since they stole it they probrably already had someone to buy it from them.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Having painting worth so much money hanging on your walls is a little crazy. I't just too much temptation for a crook. Let's hope that she had the sense to have them insured. lol
Lloyd
@missinghim (1339)
• United States
3 Mar 07
maybe she likes to surround herself with beautiful priceless items. :) but perhaps the burgular didn't steal them to sell (at least right away)... then again what about the black market. i'm sure there is a private collector that would love to have it (legally or illegally) - didn't that sound like one of the scripts from law and order or something? LOL
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Wow. You sure have all angles covered. Can't wait for this case to be solved to find out the thinking behind this theft.
Thanks.
LLoyd
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Mar 07
People that steal that type of material usually have a good idea where they can dispose of it. Many wealthy collectors must have paintings that they cannot display, but still keep for the sake of possession.
I have even heard stories that devcent copies of such paintings can be sold several times because everyone knows that the paintings have been stolen, but nobody knows that they have also been sold.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Isn't it just amazing the amount of money some people have.
How do you think they would react if they earned the pennies per day we earn here at myLot?
They would probably kill themselves. lol
Lloyd
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
2 Mar 07
Actually, I think she probably knew the paintings would be almost impossible to sell and she felt safe. After all, they were not just paintings, they were an inheritance from her grandfather. I think in the near future, those paintings will be right back on her wall.
A guess if you are going to steal art, it's important to make sure it's third rate art so you can get rid of it easily for a good price. LOL
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Well she took a bad chance. The robbers just cut the painting off the wall. Who know what damage they did to them.
It's just amazing that there is a market for stolen art.
Someone with that kind of money could easily find something else to spend it on.
LOL @ third rate art.
Lloyd
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Well, I would without a doubt have any portraits I know that I would have them in a very safe place, knowing my grandfather portraits were worth so much...
Well, if this person tries to sale this item, I believe it would be hard. Unless the person buying them don't intend on selling them.
Only crooks or people who want the portraits for themselves would be interested...
I heard about this on the television yesterday and wondered myself, who would buy and who would steal those portraits knowing if they got caught, it's going to be some serious jail time...
People today I tell ya...
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Stealing 66 million dollars worth of property is a serious offense in any country.
Deep down inside, I really wonder if any painting is worth 66 million dollars.
Putting the paintings in a safe place seems to be the only smart option.
Lloyd
