Man holds Van Gogh's 1890 painting Nature Morte, Vase aux Marguerites et Coquelicots. [File Photo]

Pursuing collections of rare art works has become a unique hobby for the world's richest entrepreneurs.

Wang Zhongjun, chairman of the high-powered Huayi Brothers film studio, bought Van Gogh's 1890 painting Nature Morte, Vase aux Marguerites et Coquelicots on Tuesday for $61.8 million, making him becomes the latest tycoon to make an eyebrow-raising art purchase.

The following are some of the most expensive paintings and the prices collectors paid to purchase them.

David Martínez, a Mexican-born investor, bought Jackson Pollock's painting, No.5, 1948, from David Geffen for $140 million in 2006, setting a record for the highest price for a piece of art work.