Kenneth Griffin a billionaire investor outbid an online cryptocurrency group to buy a first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution for $43.2 million on Thursday at Sotheby's, the statement was released on Friday by the auction house, and a spokesman for Griffin.
The hammer of auctioneer laid down after an eight-minute open house bidding on the phones and set a world closeout record for any book, an original copy, text, or a book related to the piece of history or printed message, Sotheby's said.
"The U.S. Constitution is a sacred document that enshrines the rights of every American and all those who aspire to be," Griffin said in a statement. "That is why I intend to ensure that this copy of our Constitution will be available for all Americans and visitors to view and appreciate in our museums and other public spaces."