This article highlights the highest recorded prices paid for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which represent unique digital assets on the blockchain. NFTs gained monetization potential with Ethereum's 2015 release of Etheria, and the market exploded post-2017, reaching $200 million in trades by early 2021. Below is a curated list of the most expensive NFT sales, adjusted for inflation (2024 USD).
Top 10 Most Expensive NFTs Ever Sold
| Adjusted Price (Millions) | Actual Sale Price (Millions) | NFT Title | Year Created | Sale Date | Creator | Buyer | Blockchain | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $84.3M | $69.3M | Everydays: The First 5000 Days | 2021 | Mar 11, 2021 | Beeple | Metakovan (Vignesh Sundaresan) | Ethereum | First NFT artwork auctioned at Christie’s. |
| $61.2M | $52.8M | Clock | 2022 | Feb 9, 2022 | Pak | AssangeDAO | Ethereum | Tracks Julian Assange’s imprisonment days. |
| $35.2M | $28.985M | HUMAN ONE | 2021 | Nov 9, 2021 | Beeple | Ryan Zurrer | Ethereum | Kinetic sculpture with dynamic NFT. |
| $27.5M | $23.7M | CryptoPunk #5822 | 2017 | Feb 12, 2022 | Larva Labs | "deepak" | Ethereum | Originally bought for $1,641. |
| $14.3M | $11.75M | CryptoPunk #7523 | 2017 | Jun 10, 2021 | Larva Labs | Anonymous | Ethereum | Sold via Sotheby’s. |
| $9.3M | $7.67M | CryptoPunk #3100 | 2017 | Mar 11, 2021 | Larva Labs | Anonymous | Ethereum | Alien-themed Punk. |
| $9.2M | $7.6M | CryptoPunk #7804 | 2017 | Mar 10, 2021 | Larva Labs | Anonymous | Ethereum | Rare attributes. |
| $8M | $6.6M | CROSSROAD | 2021 | Feb 25, 2021 | Beeple | "Delphina Leucas" | Ethereum | Resold from $66,666.60. |
| $7.3M | $6.0M | OCEAN FRONT | 2021 | Mar 22, 2021 | Beeple | Justin Sun | Ethereum | Auctioned on Nifty Gateway. |
| $6.8M | $5.59M | CryptoPunk #5217 | 2017 | Jul 30, 2021 | Larva Labs | Anonymous | Ethereum | — |
👉 Explore more high-value NFTs and their market trends.
Notable Mentions
- $6.6M: Edward Snowden’s Stay Free NFT (Freedom of Press Foundation).
- $5.3M: Original Doge Meme NFT (sold by Atsuko Sato).
- $2.9M: Jack Dorsey’s first tweet (proceeds donated to charity).
FAQs About High-Value NFTs
Q: What makes an NFT valuable?
A: Scarcity, creator reputation, historical significance, and cultural relevance drive NFT prices.
Q: Are these NFTs still worth their sale price today?
A: Most have depreciated significantly post-sale due to market volatility.
Q: Which blockchain hosts the most expensive NFTs?
Ethereum dominates, with Solana and Bitcoin hosting fewer high-value sales.
Q: Who buys million-dollar NFTs?
Collectors, investors, and DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) like AssangeDAO.
Q: Can NFTs be resold?
Yes, but resale value depends on demand and market conditions.
👉 Learn how to invest in NFTs wisely with expert tips.
Related Lists
Note: Prices are inflation-adjusted to 2024 USD. Data sourced from verified auction records and blockchain transactions.
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