"Losing the title of the most expensive living artist at an auction to Jeff Koons, the previous week, does not dampen Damien Hirst’s spirits, as he can still boast of being the richest artist in the world and an aficionado who spends the most on art. He made an anonymous bid on the phone last Wednesday, on a 14-inch by 12-inch self-portrait by the master, Francis Bacon. The purchase made him poorer by $33 million but set a record for a small painting to go off to an artist, at this huge an amount, in any auction. Sotheby’s auctioneer Tobias Meyer disclosed that when he realized the bidder was Damien Hirst, he was so pleased that he forgot to note down the buyer’s registration number on the winning paddle. Hirst gets the distinction of being the proud owner of four Bacons, with the purchase of this one!" - Telegraph
