Originally Posted by Bladewire

Art is used by the rich to avoid taxes and launder money, in case you didn't know. Often the high selling price of a piece of crappy art isn't about the art, it's about who the seller & buyer are. We want to do a non traceable deal so my shell company sells your shell company my art anonymously or via fixed auction.

All sorts of tax benefits / loopholes if you're doing an above board transaction, like funding a charitable remainder trust with the art, for starters. Crazy world the rich live in.