Why Bill Gates' Leonardo da Vinci Manuscript Is Worth $130 Million | Priceless | Forbes

How does Forbes estimate the value of a one-of-a-kind piece of art? In this episode, we look at the only Leonardo da Vinci manuscript that is still in private hands after more than five centuries: the Codex Leicester. Back in 1994, the estate of original Forbes 400 member Armand Hammer put the Codex up for sale at Christie’s. The new buyer? None other than the country’s richest man that year: 39-year-old Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates.
At the time, Gates paid $30.8 million for it. But what is it worth today? To figure this out, we dove into the world of rare books, manuscripts and old masters’ works. To help us with our estimate, we interviewed experts, including old masters dealer Robert Simon, who has a connection not only to the Codex Leicester, but also to the “Salvator Mundi,” another Da Vinci work that is synonymous with wealth and power.
Forbes reporter Michela Tindera and deputy wealth editor Chase Peterson-Withorn explain how Forbes determines the value of a one-of-a-kind Leonardo Da Vinci manuscript that Bill Gates purchased in 1994.
For more than three decades Forbes reporters have tracked the fortunes of the richest people on the planet: putting dollar figures to their business empires, their one-of-a-kind art, their private islands and more. Now, in a new series called “Priceless,” we’re taking you behind the scenes to show you how we determine the value of the most unique assets owned by members of The Forbes 400.
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[@georgemochalov550]

The Auction House is the real winner here, charging u 10% of everything

[@joelstatosky1817]

The truth is, everyone is the winner

[@georgemochalov550]

@Steve Wolcott ur math is off a little, the painting was 28 mil, the auction charged 2.8million

[@riskinhos]

15% actually.

[@INICK84]

If there’s money to be made, everyone wants there piece

[@jont2576]

I'm pretty sure they charge smaller commissions for such a huge sale.....like 0.1%......i mean this is not ur typical Pokémon card.

[@gdumpling6889]

People nowadays will also pay 130million for a .jpeg(NFT)

[@ramzichouk4080]

@SMA Productions it doesn't work like that

[@ramzichouk4080]

@SMA Productions the system is built so that you guys won't reach the Bill, Bezos, Billionaire club , taxes are made for you and i not for them

[@ramzichouk4080]

@SMA Productions you see most of people on this planet Don't know how the world works and that gets me depressed 😔 If people understood the meaning of the word democracy they wouldn't vote for presidents because it's the opposite of democracy

[@INICK84]

For real people will pay millions for copies online

[@petejames1326]

NFTs like BitCON and every other crypt will eventually go to their true worth, which is $0

[@frasertones8519]

The fact that a billionaire is "moved by a piece" doesn't increase it's value... it's when TWO billionaires are "moved" by the SAME piece that things start going crazy!

[@jewellui]

If you are going to knit pick, you do realise that there are very wealthy multi millionaires just under the billionaire level and organisations who also bid not just individual billionaires?

[@doggygaming950]

@@jewellui I highly doubt anyone that is not a billionaire would buy a 130 million artwork. Even if you had 1 billion that would be 13%. But I'm just knit picking a knit picking knit picker.

[@jewellui]

@@doggygaming950 funds.

[@jeannettef6985]

Bill Gates is the head of NAMBLA.

[@frasertones8519]

@@jeannettef6985 I'm interested in finding out more about that. What is your evidence?

[@untouchable360x]

"Who is the genius? The artist or the salesman who sold it for millions?" Mel Weinberg, American Hustle.

[@carlossegura403]

The artist. Without the art, the scammer wouldn't have sold it for $1Million in the first place.

[@INICK84]

The salesman, a millions artist in the world but only a salesman can make a sale worth it

[@tomrhodes1629]

The genius is he who has no part in this insanity. Thus sayeth the Lord: "This is an insane world, and do not underestimate the extent of its insanity." A piece that is worth much more than anything Leonardo ever did can be obtained for free: "The Book of God" at A Course in Truth. God's prophet, the prophesied return of Elijah, has spoken.

[@advertech]

ignorant people would say the salesman

[@MrShnazer]

You don't need to be a genius to make money.

[@MasterRedacted420]

Art is an interesting value. It's also a great way the rich launder money.

[@gennaterra]

It's not "Launger money" It's a TAX HAVEN for the super rich.

[@MasterRedacted420]

@@gennaterra that aswell but very possible to launder money thru art too. It's actually happening already.

[@fredk6992]

@@MasterRedacted420 maybe for the regular rich, but the mega rich just buy art for fun and hide it from the world

[@johnmc3862]

Anything of very high value is a way to launder money.

[@alanwolensky]

Title should be: "How to make something sound boring that's actually quite interesting."

[@alanwolensky]

@@jewellui The narration... Thought it was plainly obvious.

[@inesdelahoya2045]

I read the caption as "Why Bill Gates' Leonardo da Caprio's Manuscript Is Worth $130 Million | Priceless | Forbes" and was confiused for ~1 minute...

[@Xposthmous]

It's priceless. Hammer should've never put it up for auction. And the Mundi wasn't painted by Leonardo.

[@johnmc3862]

Sure!

[@jakemoeller7850]

Gates has been very philanthropic over the years. It would not surprise me if he were to donate the codex at some point to a major institution. If I had the amount of money that Gates has, I certainly would purchase some nice pieces of art.

[@ismith8053]

He's been as "philanthropic" as Bernard Madoff. The foundation ensures that he can lobby the WHO and get his own corporations (directly owned or hidden via trust) to profit immensely. I used to be neutral about him. But having done research, its clear he is a truly vile, wicked character.

[@shiveditasingh4593]

Such books must be free! These gems are universal treasure, how they can kept in one bookshelf. The country to whom the person belong must take the responsibility of maintaining these assets.

[@nczioox1116]

I think the scan of the info in the book is free online

[@shiveditasingh4593]

@@nczioox1116 Thanks! Will check it out.

[@crystalion3378]

This is not the only Codex in private ownership though... The Codex Windsor is in the Royal collection which is the largest private collection in the world.

[@howmaneverton9630]

I remember i saw the mansucript. it has been shown in an exhibition in Munich a long time ago. Bill loaned it to the bavarian gouvernment at the time.

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Belongs to Ludwig?

[@jjo7279]

Let’s call this what it really is….an ever increasing tax deduction.

[@DonLee1980]

Fool. He donates billions each year to funds hundreds of the top scientists for medicine research. What would a small da vinci book have any meaningful change to his tax credits. Pretty sure this is just something he wanted to have.

[@actuaryaltair6280]

@@DonLee1980 brainwashed sheeple, research how evil is gates

[@kalebhgoodwin]

@@DonLee1980 when you buy something. You can write it off as an expense /deduction for certain items. Or when you sell it for a loss, its tax deductible. There are many ways weathly can lower taxes.

[@loukasfrantzolas6494]

Except that it isn't, you can't right something like this off like a business expense.

[@loukasfrantzolas6494]

@@kalebhgoodwin exactly, for certain items , a highly expensive art piece can't be written off as a business expense

[@AllenHanPR]

Bill Gates would've saved so much money if people knew he was bidding they would've gave up. Cause they know he has no limit.

[@DonLee1980]

that's what i was thinking... but then again, someone could purposely keep pushing the bid, since they know he has no ceiling.

[@dugglebay3483]

@@DonLee1980 yeah but then they would offend him if it is too obvious

[@dugglebay3483]

@@DonLee1980 depends on his personality I guess

[@WheresTheAnyKey1]

hmm I wonder if Bill will be able to retire and cash in that hard end social security now that he's reached 65

[@DonLee1980]

His family won't ever have to "work" again. He has about 1000 square km of land/farmland. He's already quit his job at Microsoft, which is actually the most valuable company in the world right now, just passed Apple. Pretty sure he's just going to focus on humanity and science projects.

[@gavinbarnes6310]

Should be in a museum

[@lindanib541]

A lesson on how to build wealth

[@e3jnr]

Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

[@cinemaipswich4636]

The Royal Family of UK owns several books, drawing and designs of Leonardo. The were purchased a few generations ago and their value is unknown.

[@DonLee1980]

When it comes to art/history, nobody can compete with monarchs/governments. Just look at the Louvre, everything in there is priceless

[@gennaterra]

I dream that one day... one day this precious and valuable piece will return to it's original country of Italy, and dearly display it in Florence... were it rightfully belongs. It's not a matter of being "nationalist", it's simply where its HEART AND SOUL belongs regardless of what "Price tag" people have chosen to give.

[@mapleleafkay9824]

I get that!

[@jewellui]

I feel what you are saying but given the value of this piece, even if it returned to Florence it would probably never be on display anyway and be locked away. The amount paid for this piece would probably guarantee it’s preservation which is even more important for all of humanity.

[@hatcher_]

Why does it feel like gates has sponsored Forbes to make this video so he can sell it next year for 130 mil at auction

[@neofusionstylx]

It’s a Da Vinci…it’ll sell itself. It’d prob go for way more than $130M. Wouldn’t be surprised if it hits 250-500M give how there are art works who’ve gone for that much. A lot of rich Chinese billionaires who’d love to flaunt/money launder.

[@MichelePonte]

He won’t sell it

[@DonLee1980]

130 million is nothing to him. why would he sell it?

[@chippolainen]

Why would he sell it?

[@ifalm4274]

Why would he want to make money out of it his worth is like 1000x this price

[@RollaArtis]

In order to value it, one needs to regard it as a Brand - just an object that people want to acquire for whatever reason. So this da Vinci manuscript could potentially be less valuable than a Rolex watch, a pair of Nike trainers or even a piece of gum (pre-chewed).

[@joccie7113]

Congratulations you discovered basic supply and demand

[@RollaArtis]

@@joccie7113 Yes its pretty obvious. Demand can be created by marketing followed by value - even items of no intrinsic worth such as all those branded goods for which people pay vast sums.

[@Rust_Rust_Rust]

Give this man a Nobel peace prize he figured out that items are worth as much as people are willing to pay for!

[@RollaArtis]

@@Rust_Rust_Rust Yes - the fools...

[@ilovelimpfries]

This Simon guy is a conman. He manage to con the "king" of saudi to buy davinci student painting for almost half a billion dollars.

[@hurleycapetown8420]

Don’t feel bad for them they don’t really treat people that nicely.

[@captainofthenorthstar5010]

Agreed.

[@phoenix5054]

Oddly enough, I'm 100% in favor of scamming and outsmarting rich bastards.

[@NathalieLazo]

Incredible person reading this, you have everything there is to succeed in life, whatever that is for you. Go after the life you truly want NOW! ✨ I believe in you! Love - Nat ❤️

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

No, I don't stop putting your privilege and disillusioned reality in my mouth. Believe in me to do what? You guys are killing artists like me anyway. STOP PLAYING MOTHER MARY.

[@tomrhodes1629]

Yes, Nathalie, the only enemy is fear. Fear is the cause of the insanity of this world. And...Thus sayeth the Lord: "This IS an insane world, and do NOT underestimate the extent of its insanity." A piece that is worth much more than anything Leonardo ever did can be obtained for free: "The Book of God" at A Course in Truth. God's prophet, the prophesied return of Elijah, has spoken.

[@not_enoughmana]

Yet another reason billionaires should be taxed just the same as the rest of the population.

[@SidewaysInTraffic]

The appraiser bought a painting for $1K and it sold for $450M lol really?

[@Atowns]

Could have been a 3min video

[@JeremiahFernandez]

alright but why she gotta flirt with the camera 😂

[@keithprice1950]

How can something that has a clear price/value be in a video with the world 'Priceless' in the title next to the price of the item?

[@susanwoodward7485]

Missing the entire value of the Codex - it's not "art". it's science!!!!

[@sendforacar9323]

The narrators vocal fry is nails on a chalk board.

[@richard_mulla]

This video could have just finished at 00:59

[@Nicolas-uu3jr]

well, he did give half of all we do today 😀

[@rodrigolerenagutierrez3708]

They don’t live in a different world, they just get stroked by people that like money like Forbes

[@anikan865]

Billionaires just live in a different world

[@DonLee1980]

they do, but people often get too jealous. The rich have just as many life problems as we do. Just different ones. 99% of the people who hate the rich, would never know and certainly would never accept the sacrifices it takes to get to the top of the world.

[@asahel980]

130 million today(if auction competition is not that good) Itll be half a billion in 5 decades.

[@RockandBox]

Should be in Italy alongside the Gioconda.

[@jorggamingcr409]

The Gioconda is in The Louvre, in France...

[@fredk6992]

@@jorggamingcr409 I think he means both should be in Italy

[@RockandBox]

@@fredk6992 Thank you! My fault, I should have added "both" as most people may not be aware how Italians feel regarding the Gioconda.

[@uzairmirza6964]

What was the median price? Averages are susceptible to outliers

[@Heresheis0818]

WoW he got really cool stuff

[@edwardb7811]

What does one do with the Codex? Can we learn from it or enjoy it? If ownership is for the purpose of bragging rights, a successful person shouldn’t have to brag.

[@jutgediisp3407]

When you have as much money as gates you start collecting expensive stuff simply because you have the money to do so

[@Mkultra746]

Damn Edward. Didn’t know you had the bragging rights to tell people how to live their lives.

[@edwardb7811]

@@Mkultra746 I was just curious why someone would spend so much money for something that seems hard or impossible to use. It is mirror-written and can’t be read by most of us. I have no interest how Bill Gates spends his money but I do hope he pays some taxes.

[@jewellui]

What a daft comment. He even made it free online for all to see and learn.

[@samuelnatal8014]

So the murderer has a lot of money and buys his friends.

[@BurntheKremlin966]

Keeping people in distraction while one by one they take back our rights. Breads and games people !

[@rockyyz9591]

it probably contains some earth saving secrets that he'll be selling to us shortly

[@cherieplumlee9748]

😅

[@globalistburntheforests4294]

hard time for globalists...

[@fmcsound3609]

He only paid 27 million for it

[@aliasone9827]

Only 27 million in 1995 ..worth more than $200 million today

[@leroyreynolds7366]

We are strange creatures, I bet his spit would be bottled and sold if we could.

[@JeremiahFernandez]

remember belle delphine's bathwater?

[@DeeMarevic]

I wonder what additional papers came with it?

[@plm8830]

This is weird. Did we all forget his entanglement with Epstein?

[@murrayterry834]

he hopes they have but they wont. weather modification gmos eugenics marina abramovich and the dark arts the killing and sterilization of africans india bayer and monsanto connection. dangerous sodium nuclear reactors eppstain and he calls himself a doctor and philanthropist. dr salk i presume or just mengele?

[@CaptainPlanet007]

$31mill wow! I could do a lot with that kind of money.

[@PrestoMediaProductions]

He bought a copy of the original And that is what he deserves

[@4Realkevv]

Real estate

[@007EnglishAcademy]

It's not 'Da Vinci' (that just means ''from Vinci'' it's ''Leonardo.

[@universeofopulence]

...leo from Vinci 👍

[@asimwaheed8201]

If should of donated it to a museum.

[@ClipsNSnips]

"Bill Gates's a hundred and thirty billion dollar fortune" 😖 Oh! It hurts my ears so much.... That's too many mistakes. I cringe so much listening to her... You'd think Forbes would have a more meticulous screening process when it comes to hiring writers and narrators 😓

[@hankzhong]

That's a horrible investment if it really only sold for $130 mil today, considering if you invested $30M in the following in 1994, here's how much (roughly) you would have today: Microsoft Stock: $3 Billion, Berkshire Hathaway Stock: $1 Billion.

[@fredk6992]

Old Masters works aren't just going to increase in price 10000% lmao

[@vs7brands781]

Nice

[@saint6563]

"Billionaires live in a different World" built on the backs of Workers.

[@johnlawrey2181]

How much has Bill made off vaccine mandate?

[@testing6753]

Billions. But Id assume it was more about his sociopathic needs to harm and control the people.

[@Robert-bg2gs]

Even on this channel there are still uneducated people present. Nutcase

[@ricardomoran1542]

El vaccino

[@malinche6505]

Because someone has a place to hide their money

[@gavinbarnes6310]

Imagine making 100 million off something

[@marchector2387]

Im from Leicester in uk

[@garogaryvoskorian577]

Because in this book there are inventions and techniques we havent discovered yet. The methodology of building back then and evth from engineering

[@matthewdopler8997]

Most of the inventions wouldn’t have worked well. Leonardo doodled cool ideas but were never fully tested.

[@ImissSaganCarl]

The vocal fry in this presenter's voice is driving me nuts. I can't even watch this video.

[@sivanrottelman7224]

Hi just a question, when a man talks with vocal fry in a commercial are you just as annoyed?

[@lilabear5144]

the way the presenter talked seemed sooo slooow and dragged out. Doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. Vox uses this way of presenting, too. Is this a millenial trend or something?

[@lucasbachmann]

@@lilabear5144 National Public Radio accent?

[@timothymorrell4023]

What does it gain a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul..

[@monetschannel5773]

The whole world 🌎

[@timothymorrell4023]

@@monetschannel5773 you are correct. he gains the whole world in this lifetime. But without Jesus Christ he loses eternity. but that is why God gave us free will. we get to choose our own destiny. God will honor that choice, even if it leads to destruction. but he offers a way out, when he sent his son to die in our place on the cross. he loves us that much.

[@EBreezy40]

yall have no idea what kind of information it contains

[@fredk6992]

Probably a lot of incorrect scientific ideas

[@AquarianNomadic]

@@fredk6992 fact.

[@devinwsullivan8176]

Hello from Arkansas, I want some food like some cheesecake or something

[@zecnobot]

I'm glad I met him (again) in 2010. That was priceless.

[@jeannettef6985]

Bill Gates is the head of NAMBLA.

[@zecnobot]

@@jeannettef6985 I meant master da vinci

[@superfluous5162]

Nothing is priceless and nothing is void . There is supply than there is demand or better demand 😁 .

[@markhirstwood4190]

Narrator vocal fry makes this hard to watch.

[@walterdonald5432]

People will be kicking themselves in few weeks if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in Bitcoin as it's retracing.

[@michael-sr9xg]

Most intelligent words I've heard.

[@martialjames6788]

Crypto is the new gold

[@smithrobinson2881]

@Steveing Raphael That won't bother you if you trade with a professional like Mr Williams Brown

[@josepheric2621]

I heard that his strategies are really good

[@zacharyvincent1912]

Yeah My first investment with Mr Williams earned me profit of over $25,530 US dollars ever since then he has been delivering

[@RJAH355]

This is the problem with the bullshit world we live in. Kids are starving to death but some people pay 130 million for writing on paper. It’s nothing but a joke.

[@robertrootes]

It must be nice to have enough money to feed everyone on the planet twice over, and keep it all just to waste it on personal stuff

[@mauricioweber8879]

They live in a different world... we kinda’ know that

[@latneyb]

How much would he get out of his Lolita express barf bag?

[@diabolical6851]

That is how billionaires blow up their money it is still end up as an investment.

[@balintkarpati3508]

NO...he is NOT leonardo

[@growingmelancholy8374]

Eat the rich.

[@유니콘-d6h]

Will

[@cassie4611]

Thank you!!

[@eagle7757]

Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved by Grace, John 3:16, KJV...........

[@fortisfortunaadiuvat9262]

Mr I want to make everything GMO

[@murrayterry834]

what the public needs to know. he is of the predator class.

[@4Realkevv]

MUST BE NICE LOL how do you read it also

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

End capitalism

[@shitmypants5275]

Stop crying lol

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

@@shitmypants5275 STOP suppressing my wages and give me better social safety nets like you did or get ride of democracy, social cohesion and STOP CALLING YOURSELF FREE. Oligarchy controls this nation anyway, you are a loser if you think you'll become like them without being born rich and connected (source: capital in 21st century and range by david epstein).

[@heshanperera1581]

Capitalism is what creates value. Look at the fall of soviet Russia. The news clip of McDonald’s opening up in Moscow is prolly the most poignant realisation of the failure of socialism. If what you’re asking for is a stronger social safety net then don’t talk about ending capitalism. Capitalism is what funds a stronger safety net.

[@mercedesbenzdelos90s]

Loser

[@shitmypants5275]

@@Pyasa.shaitan if you really believe communism is gonna work. You need to read history more than you read david Epstein

[@umachakraborty8090]

Bill gates sir aachhe sir❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@fredsalfa]

I’ve got a few iPads

[@AbhiAnand-vn4rq]

Gates and Epstein. Look into that.

[@GodofStories]

If it had the auction block in this QE environment, it would at least go for $750M or $1B. Everything is 10x today from just 4-5 years ago.

[@UNPOCOLOCO444]

What's QE?

[@michaelb9940]

Imagine buying an Ipad at 65 years of age and FORBES does a whole special on you for buying that Ipad. $30 Million that Gates spent on this book is like an average 65 years old person buying an iPad! Let this sink in!

[@ismartsharma]

Hello

[@victoriasantiago2861]

Eu tenho a coleção da editora Abril Cultural que aborda o assunto e maravilhoso.

[@MuszZico]

Milad mirg?

[@shivamedits4164]

😳

[@mario00mario91]

Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. There is no other intermediary. May Jesus Bless you, trust Him, give your life - and He will take care of it :pray Convert yourself and believe in the Gospel - Romans 10 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[a](A) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare(B) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(C) and believe(D) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(E) you will be saved.(F) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.♡;**

[@lukecockburn1140]

Bill gates was up against a bank😮 Is it only me who thinks that's crazy Bill gates dat boi

[@itsmob4life]

He’s responsible for Covid 19

[@andrenewcomb3708]

You can write backwards, intelligently, philosophically, paper-less and with no climate control and pesticides to control paper digests? And what about the gates to The Old City with the Golden Gate protected by a cemetery? Things can get pricey when there's actually something on the line . . . like a blond Jesus.

[@andrenewcomb3708]

There's a police station around somewhere that has public art sculpture of two books. They're promising you that they're going to throw the book at you . . . they're making a list and they're checking it twice . . . and maybe, just maybe, you'll figure it out . . . soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooome day.

[@joylucas6421]

Akala q tlg bussinessman lang c sir. N ngaral ng law kc poitician din. Nd q sukat akalain n sumasideline n ob gyne boss q. 😄😄😄

[@007MegaRoll]

nobody belives this bs anymore

[@joylucas6421]

Mga kakilala nga ng boss q khit dito kung ngkatuluyan kme nun naku paquiet n njsmike panigurado mga kameeting nun at nga staff nia kc pr db prti nkipgdignaan s, aliwn c sur tpoa mkikita nl may dala dmc n sinulid 😂😂

[@joylucas6421]

Kc tlg pg ntuwa un n nd aq mkikipgsosyalan tlg khit xa pumunta ng quiapo pr bumili ng sinulid q tlg xa bibili bago pumunta meeting may bitbit xa sinulid😂😂😂

[@DgurlSunshine]

Gross

[@Dr.WaltzFromChicago]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂