What do Madonna, Elton John and Victoria Beckham have in common? Yes they are all musicians that have (in their hay-day) pulled huge crowds. However, there is something (or someone) else that draws them together: Damien Hirst. All three celebrities are known to have purchased his works.

The Child's Dream by Damien Hirst Photograph: Tate St. Ives

Not surprisingly, the art world is a playground for the rich and famous. Other notable celebrities reported to have purchased big name art are:

Beautiful Abstract Landscape Pretentious Art Nonsense Rug by Damien Hirst

Jay-Z, who has purchased works by Damien Hirst and Paul Pfeiffer’s, “The Long Count, Rumble in the Jungle”:

The Long Count (Rumble in the Jungle) by Paul Pfeiffer

Steve Martin who has quite a large art collection including works by Franz Kline:

Mahoning, 1956 by Franz Kline

And Marc Jacobs who has purchased work by Karren Kilimnik:

The Perch by Karen Kilimnick

Jennifer Aniston and Christina Aguilera are also art lovers, and the list goes on. In some cases, the art isn’t that far removed from buyer as many of the celebrities are artists themselves, only of a different medium.

The Incredible Journey: Damien Hirst's zebra in formaldehyde

The good news for artists? Celebrities investing in art can bump prices and their star power also generates enormous buzz around the artists they cherish. Some of the artists lauded by celebrities are house-hold names in their own right, but purchases by the rich and famous have been known to fast track the careers of emerging artists as well.

‘Medicine Cabinets’ by Damien Hirst, L & M Arts, 2010. Courtesy of Tom Powel Imaging

As will all purchases, some are for the love of the piece, others for investment, and for the lucky ones it’s both. It was reported that after a few drinks, Hugh Grant purchased an Andy Warhol piece at auction and eventually went on to make millions when he sold it for 10 times its original value at auction nearly 6 years later. We’ll have what he’s drinking. Cheers to buying art!

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