Maurizio Cattelan's Gold Toilet Sculpture 'America' Fetches $12.1 Million at Auction

The highly distinctive sculpture titled 'America,' crafted from 18-karat gold by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, has found a new owner. The piece was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York on November 18, 2025, for a final price of $12.1 million, inclusive of all associated fees. The buyer is the well-known American entertainment franchise, Ripley's Believe It or Not!.

Ripley's representatives have confirmed that this functional art object, which weighs over 100 kilograms, represents the most valuable acquisition in their extensive collection to date. Furthermore, the organization intends to make the unique toilet available for public viewing, allowing visitors to witness the extravagant artwork firsthand.

Created in 2016, the artwork serves as a pointed satire targeting themes of rampant capitalism and excessive wealth accumulation. The bidding for this specific lot, which began at an estimated value around $10 million based on its gold weight, opened at $10 million. This particular version is significant as it is the only known surviving copy of the work.

The fate of the previous iteration remains a mystery. That piece, installed at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in September 2019, was stolen in a high-profile heist. The theft, which occurred at the ancestral home of the Duke of Marlborough, resulted in considerable damage, including flooding, because the toilet had been connected to the estate's plumbing system. In 2025, four individuals were formally charged in connection with the robbery, though the sculpture itself was never recovered and is widely presumed to have been melted down.

Before its ill-fated display at Blenheim, this iteration of 'America' made its debut in 2016 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. During its tenure there, more than 100,000 visitors had the opportunity to use the functional piece. In a notable anecdote, when the White House once requested a Van Gogh painting, the Guggenheim reportedly offered this golden toilet as a satirical counter-proposal.

The Ripley's collection, which originated from the holdings of Robert L. Ripley, is famous for showcasing curiosities, including wax figures and other rare artifacts. John Corcoran, the Director of Exhibitions for Ripley's, mentioned that the company is actively exploring the possibility of allowing visitors to actually use the sculpture. However, he cautioned that such an endeavor would necessitate 'serious planning' and require 'someone quite brave' to take the plunge.

This acquisition comes at a time when the high-end art market has experienced some softening. Nevertheless, the purchase underscores the enduring fascination with Cattelan's provocative creations. His previous sales records include the $17.2 million achieved for his sculpture 'Him.' The 'America' sculpture now continues its journey, moving from the private collection of billionaire Steve Cohen into a collection dedicated to the world's most unusual objects.