Harry & Linda Macklowe: The $2 Billion Divorce That Produced the Most Expensive Art Auction in History
He projected a 42-foot photo of his mistress on a skyscraper -- she got half of a $922 million art collection
Key Facts
What Happened
Harry Macklowe, the 81-year-old New York real estate mogul behind 432 Park Avenue, and his wife of 59 years, Linda, became the center of one of the most spectacular divorce battles in New York history. Linda filed for divorce in 2016 after discovering that Harry had been secretly keeping his French girlfriend, Patricia Landeau, in one of his other properties at 737 Park Avenue. The couple had married in 1959 and spent decades assembling one of the most valuable private art collections in the world.
The art collection became the centerpiece of the litigation. Comprising 65 masterworks by Rothko, Warhol, de Kooning, Giacometti, Richter, and Koons, the collection was appraised at between $625 million (Linda's expert) and $788 million (Harry's expert). When the couple could not agree on values, a judge ordered the entire collection sold at auction with proceeds split equally. The case set a precedent for how courts handle disputed art valuations in divorce.
Harry's behavior during the proceedings became tabloid legend. After marrying Patricia Landeau in 2019, he installed a 42-by-24-foot black-and-white portrait of himself and his new bride on the northwest corner of 432 Park Avenue -- the very building he had developed. The gesture was widely interpreted as a taunt directed at Linda. He called it a 'proclamation of love'; critics called it spectacularly petty.
The art collection sold at Sotheby's in two tranches: $676 million in November 2021 and $246 million in May 2022, for a combined total of $922 million -- the most valuable private collection ever sold at auction, surpassing the Rockefeller estate. A single Rothko painting, 'No. 7,' fetched $82.5 million. Linda received half. The Macklowe divorce proved that when couples cannot agree on the value of assets, courts will simply liquidate them and split the proceeds.
Legal Breakdown: High-Net-Worth Divorce
Court-Ordered Liquidation of Disputed Assets
When Harry and Linda's dueling appraisers disagreed by over $160 million on the art collection's value, the court took a blunt approach: sell everything and split the cash. This is a common judicial remedy when spouses cannot agree on asset valuations. The lesson is clear -- if you cannot negotiate a division of high-value assets, a court may force a fire sale that neither party wanted.
Art Valuation in Divorce
Art is notoriously difficult to value in divorce. Unlike stocks or real estate, there is no objective market price -- only estimates from appraisers with competing incentives. The Macklowe case demonstrated that courts will not tolerate valuation disputes that delay proceedings. Both spouses should hire independent appraisers early and consider stipulating values for key pieces to avoid court-ordered sales.
Long Marriages and Equitable Distribution
After 59 years of marriage, virtually every asset the Macklowes owned was marital property. New York's equitable distribution framework meant the court considered each spouse's contributions, earning capacity, and needs. In ultra-long marriages, courts typically lean toward equal division, especially when both spouses contributed to acquiring the assets -- Linda was actively involved in curating the art collection.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you and your spouse cannot agree on the value of major assets like art, real estate, or collectibles, a court may order them sold at auction -- often at a loss.
- →In marriages lasting decades, almost everything is marital property. The longer the marriage, the harder it is to claim any asset is separate.
- →Provocative behavior during divorce proceedings (like projecting a photo of your new partner on a building) can alienate judges and hurt your case.
- →Document your contributions to acquiring and curating shared assets -- Linda's involvement in building the art collection strengthened her claim to an equal share.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.