rump Sold a Painting of Jesus for $2.75 Million at His New Year’s Eve Party

The Winning Bidder Beat Out Wall Street

President Donald Trump rang in 2026 by playing auctioneer at his Mar-a-Lago party, selling a portrait of Jesus Christ that had been painted live on stage just minutes earlier.

The winning bid hit $2.75 million, and Trump had already dismissed offers of $1 million and $2 million as pocket change for his wealthy guests.

The money goes to charity, the artist has painted for Trump before, and the whole scene played out in front of a guest list that included a sitting prime minister.

She Painted Jesus in 10 Minutes

Christian worship artist Vanessa Horabuena took the stage in the Mar-a-Lago ballroom on December 31, 2025, and created a portrait of Jesus Christ while the band played a slow version of Hallelujah.

She finished in about 10 minutes.

Trump introduced her as one of the greatest living artists in the world and told the crowd she could paint a detailed portrait for the White House or create something incredible in the time it takes to drink a cocktail.

Trump Called a Million Dollars Peanuts

When one bidder offered $1 million, Trump was not impressed.

He pointed out that the man was one of the biggest names on Wall Street and said the offer was peanuts for someone like him.

Trump joked that the bidders red MAGA hat helped him catch people off guard before taking their money.

The crowd kept pushing the price higher as Trump egged them on from the stage.

He Sweetened the Deal With His Signature

As bids climbed past $2 million, Trump offered to sign the painting if someone would go higher.

A woman briefly seemed to offer $5 million, but she quickly corrected herself to $2.5 million. Trump laughed and said her husband looked panicked.

The final bid landed at $2.75 million, and Trump invited the winning couple on stage before pointing at the husband and telling someone to get his number.

The Money Splits Two Ways

Half of the $2.75 million goes to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, which treats kids with cancer and other serious diseases without charging families a dime.

The other half goes to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs department.

Trump announced both beneficiaries before the bidding started, which likely helped loosen wallets in a room full of people who could write seven-figure checks without blinking.

Tickets Cost $1,450 Each

Getting into Trumps New Years Eve party is not cheap. Tickets ran $1,450 this year, up from around $1,000 a few years ago.

That buys a prix-fixe dinner, champagne, and a spot behind the velvet rope where guests can watch Trump work the room.

The party has been a Palm Beach tradition for more than two decades, and prices spiked after Trump won his first term.

Netanyahu Made the Guest List

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara attended the party after Trump personally invited them earlier that week.

Other guests included Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, film director Brett Ratner, and Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani.

First Lady Melania Trump wore a metallic silver gown.

Vanilla Ice Returned to Mar-a-Lago

The 1990s rapper Vanilla Ice took the stage and performed Ice Ice Baby, getting Trump and his guests dancing.

This was not his first Mar-a-Lago New Years Eve gig. He performed at the same party back in 2021.

Past years have featured performers like Gladys Knight and Jason Aldean, and the guest lists over the decades have included Tiger Woods, Martha Stewart, Serena Williams, and Sylvester Stallone.

The Artist Has Painted for Trump Before

Vanessa Horabuena first painted for Trump at the Liberty Inauguration Ball in January 2025, where she created a portrait titled Prayers for Our President while worship music played.

In July, Trump asked her to replace a portrait of him hanging in a Denver Capitol building that he called truly the worst.

She has over 800,000 followers online and is based in Phoenix, Arizona, where she travels nationwide painting at churches and Christian conferences.

Speed Painting Is Part Art, Part Show

Speed painting is a live performance technique where artists create finished works in minutes, usually timed to music.

The drama builds as the image takes shape, and the reveal at the end is designed to wow the crowd.

These paintings often sell at charity auctions because the live creation adds value beyond the artwork itself.

Horabuena told Trump she could paint slowly for a formal portrait or finish something incredible in 10 minutes flat.

His Resolution Was Peace on Earth

Trump was unusually quiet when he arrived at the party with Melania. Asked by reporters what his New Years resolution was, he said peace on Earth.

Earlier that day, he had gone on a social media tear attacking Colorado Governor Jared Polis and actor George Clooney.

But by the time Jesus appeared on canvas and the bidding started, Trump was smiling, joking with his guests, and telling the winners they would have a good time.

The Painting Stays With the Bidders

The couple who won the auction took home the painting that night. Whether it ends up on a living room wall or gets donated again is up to them.

What stays at Mar-a-Lago is the story of how a 10-minute portrait of Jesus, painted to worship music in front of a prime minister and a guy who sang Ice Ice Baby, raised nearly $3 million for charity before the champagne went flat.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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