Why art is a better investment than stock this decade

On September 1st, 2006, a share of Apple stock cost $9.78.

Ten years later to the day, an Apple share was valued at $106.14. a percentage increase of 985%.

While backing Apple was obviously a savvy move (and kudos if you did), purchasing a 20th-century Belgian painting of an apple by René Magritte would have been an even savvier one.

In the past ten years, 20th-century Belgian works have increased in value by 1,148%, one of the many art genres (20th century Spanish paintings, post-war art) that have outperformed the stock market during that time span, according to Art Market Research Developments and ArtPrice.com.

American pop art has proved to be another worthwhile investment: its value has increased nine times faster than the S&P 500 index over the past decade, with works by Andy Warhol selling for a cumulative $3.38 billion at auction in the past 10 years.

Warhold once said, “Good business is the best art.”

Seems the best art is also good business.

Main image photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images

Meet your guide

Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”