The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is arguably the most well-known and stunning artwork ever created. This masterwork is currently valued at almost $2 billion. It is hardly surprising that a mechanic for the Louvre like Vincenzo Perugia would dare to take it. Perugia, the painting, and two other handymen broke out of the museum in 1911 after hiding up in one of the museum’s closets until it closed. A few years later, when he attempted to sell it to an Italian art dealer, it was retrieved.
The Empire State Building
In order to make a statement, The New York Daily News took the Empire State Building’s title in December 2008. For the $1.89 billion deed to be lawfully transferred, the journalists submitted fictitious documents. It exposed a flagrant legal flaw, which prompted lawmakers to carefully review the measure. The building was immediately given back to its owner by the newspaper.
The Davidoff-Morini Stradivarius
The price tag on this Stradivarius is $3.5 million. Antonio Stradivari created the violin in 1727. The instrument was taken from Erica Morini’s New York City residence at the time. Erica was a well-known concert violinist and the owner of the instrument. On the FBI’s list of the top 10 art crimes, the case is still unsolved.
Dorothy’s ruby red slippers
The Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota’s ruby red shoes that Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz wears to carry her back home were stolen in 2005. The shoes’ estimated value ranged from $2 to $3 million. Even a $1 million reward was offered by an Arizonian benefactor to hasten the police probe. It was ultimately found by the FBI in September 2018.
The Scream
Edvard Munch is known for his renowned picture The Scream. There are four variations, but the most well-known one costs $120 million. The National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, reported that version as stolen in 1944. The cops apprehended the band of thieves after they made a $1 million ransom demand.
Dinosaur Bones
Sixteen dinosaur skeletons were stolen by Eric Prokopi from Mongolia and brought back into the United States illegally. It was estimated that the bones cost over $1 million. Prokopi was later apprehended by the FBI and sentenced to three months in prison.
A 3,000-pound bell
Inside a Buddhist monastery in Tacoma, Washington, a 3,000-pound Vietnamese copper bell was taken. The robber arrived with a forklift, grabbed the bell, and rushed out of the monastery while the monks were performing their regular meditation ritual. When the thief tried to sell the bell, the police were able to get it back.
The Fabergé eggs
The House of Fabergé created 50 jeweled eggs in 1885, which were held by the Russian royal family. These jewel-crusted eggs were lost to history due to the bloodline’s terrible end. Thankfully, seven of them were found and put on display in museums. According to reports, each egg costs more than $1 million.
The Saliera
Benvenuto Cellini created The Saliera in the 16th century for King Francis I of France. It is a 10-inch-tall gold salt-and-pepper container sculpture. The $57 million work of art was stolen from a Vienna museum in 2003; it was then found by the authorities a few years later.
The Concert
A $200 million artwork by renowned Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer is titled The Concert. It was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 together with eleven other pieces of art. That day, $500 million worth of artwork was stolen by the criminals.
The Amber Room
The “Eighth Wonder of the World” was perhaps the early 18th-century Amber Room. The golden room was created by artist Frederick for the Russian king, but it was finally taken by the Nazis in 1941. There are rumors that the chamber was saved and hidden someplace, despite the fact that many people think it was destroyed along with the castle in 1945.