The most expensive Popeye statue ever sold is Jeff Koons’s 2009-2011 stainless steel Popeye, which fetched $28.165 million with premium at Sotheby’s New York on 14 May 2014. Our original article wrongly said it retailed for $28 million and that two other collectors owned versions. It was an edition of three, and the buyer was the casino owner Steve Wynn. As of October 2026 we found no new Popeye record, and only three Popeye sales with documented prices.
| Rank | Popeye item | Price | Sale date | Sold at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Koons, Popeye (sculpture) | $28.165 million | May 2014 | Sotheby’s New York |
| 2 | Linemar Popeye and Olive Oyl tank, boxed | $105,000 | April 2022 | Milestone Auctions |
| 3 | Linemar battery-operated Popeye rowboat | $13,200 | April 2022 | Milestone Auctions |
The most expensive Popeye items sold
1. Jeff Koons, Popeye: $28.165 million
A 6.5-foot polychromed stainless steel sculpture of the sailor with his can of spinach, made by Jeff Koons between 2009 and 2011 and part of an edition of three. No example had appeared at auction before this one. It led Sotheby’s contemporary evening sale, which totalled $364 million.
The estimate was above $25 million. The hammer price was $25 million and, with a 20 percent buyer’s premium, the total was $28,165,000. There was little competition: reports say two or three bidders were involved. Steve Wynn bought it and said he would install it at one of his casinos in Las Vegas.
How we valued it: the hammer price of $25 million plus the buyer’s premium, the total reported by the auction house.
2. Linemar Popeye and Olive Oyl tank: $105,000
A battery-powered tin toy with its original box, sold at Milestone Auctions’ Antique Toy Spectacular on 9 April 2022 for $105,000 against an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000, a world record for a Popeye toy. The buyer had previously owned it, having first bought it from an eBay seller in the early 2000s for about $14,000 to $15,000.
How we valued it: the auction result including premium as reported for the April 2022 sale.
3. Linemar battery-operated Popeye rowboat: $13,200
The same sale included a Linemar rowboat toy that made $13,200 against an estimate of $2,500 to $3,500.
How we valued it: the auction result as reported for the April 2022 sale.
Records set in 2025 and 2026
We found no new Popeye sale in 2025 or 2026. The latest documented result is the April 2022 tank. Koons’s Popeye remains the only major Popeye sculpture to reach auction.
What drives these prices
- The artist. The Koons price is a Koons price. Popeye sold at the low end of its estimate.
- Edition size. Only three exist.
- Condition and box. The tin tank sold in original packaging, which collectors prize.
- A repeat buyer. The tank’s buyer had owned it before, which shows how few top examples there are.
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What is the most expensive Popeye statue?
Jeff Koons’s stainless steel Popeye, which sold for $28.165 million at Sotheby’s New York in May 2014.
Who bought it?
Casino owner Steve Wynn, who planned to display it at one of his Las Vegas casinos.
How tall is it?
About 6.5 feet, according to the auction listing; some reports say 7 feet.
How many versions are there?
An edition of three. The one sold in 2014 was the first to reach auction.
What is the most expensive Popeye toy?
A boxed Linemar Popeye and Olive Oyl tank sold for $105,000 in April 2022.
Is Koons the artist behind the Balloon Dog?
Yes. Jeff Koons made the Balloon Dog series as well as the Popeye sculptures.
How we put this list together
We ranked Popeye items by documented auction result from dated reports of each sale. Prices include the buyer’s premium where reported and are approximate.
Keep reading
About the artist: Jeff Koons.
Last updated: October 2026.
