In an unusual meeting of art, luxury and culture, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! bought a gold toilet. The art piece costs $12.1 million. Ripley made the purchase on November 19, 2025. This purchase ranks among the company’s most lavish. It shows a solid drive to bring new and rare art to the public.
The work is called “America.” It came from artist Maurizio Cattelan in 2016. The toilet uses 100 kilograms of 18-karat gold. It stands as a working toilet. The craft work is plain to see. Sotheby’s first set its value by gold weight. Ripley added almost $2 million to that price.
The art piece came from financier Steve Cohen. Cohen’s art collection includes works like Jasper Johns’s “Flag” and Damien Hirst’s shark kept in formaldehyde. The golden toilet now carries a past full of bold art ideas. One matching twin was lost in 2019 at England’s Blenheim Palace.
Ripley is known for finding odd art across the globe. Its attractions stretch from museums to aquariums and mirror mazes. The company plans to show the gold toilet in a way that all can see it. They might even let visitors use the working piece. John Corcoran, Ripley’s show director, joked about needing a plumber. This joke points out the challenges of using art in real ways.
This act brings up new thoughts about art as both a purchase and a show. It shifts old ideas of value by mixing new ideas and bold actions. The gold toilet adds to Ripley’s mixed art collection and ties art with pop culture and business.
Tokens and digital trends change how art and property form. Art like Cattelan’s “America” still draws attention with its physical form and bold story. Ripley’s move stands as a clear sign of art that breaks rules, sparks thought and mixes old ideas with fresh ones.
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This article was generated by Hivebox AI in collaboration with AuCan Gold.
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