In November of 2006 Jackson Pollock's No. 5, 1948 and Woman III by Willem de Kooning were sold in private transactions. Pollock's was sold for $140 million and de Kooning's for $137.5 million making them the 2 most expensive paintings ever purchased at that time.They are now the 5th and 6th most expensive paintings sold.
Mark Rothko's painting No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) became the 2nd most expensive painting after it sold for $186 million in August of 2014. It is currently in the 3rd spot after a painting by French post impressionist, Paul Gauguin, sold for $300 million in February this year.