The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has sold more than 65 million copies since it was first published in 1988. The book was originally written in Portuguese but has since been translated in to 67 different languages, which is a record for a book by a living author. Reincarnation does not count, sorry Jesus.

In 1911 an employee of the Louvre Museum in Paris by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting. He was Italian and believed the painting should be displayed in Italy. In 1913 he was caught when he tried to sell it to a gallery in Florence.

The current winner in the most expensive painting ever purchased contest is No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock. The price paid at auction when adjusted for inflation was 148.1 million dollars. It is important to note that this is the most expensive painting ever sold, but not necessarily the most valuable. There are many works of art in the great galleries of the world that would certainly fetch a higher price, but will probably never go on sale.