Archive · 4 Sep 2025
Art Dealer Inigo Philbrick's Fraud: A Gripping Documentary
Imagine someone who sells really expensive paintings.
This person, Inigo Philbrick, tricked people into buying more pieces of art than actually existed.
He was making fake deals to get lots of money!
He was running a gallery, but was really a 'class-A grifter'.
He spent millions, and lived a fancy life.
When his scheme fell apart, he ran away with his girlfriend.
Eventually, he got caught and went to jail for several years.
Now, he says he wants to start selling art again.
The documentary 'The Great Art Fraud' details the story of Inigo Philbrick.
Philbrick was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to seven years in prison.
He began his career at a gallery and later ran his own, funded by Jay Jopling.
Philbrick defrauded art collectors of millions by selling more shares in artworks than existed.
After his crimes, Philbrick went on the run with his girlfriend before being arrested.
- Who
- Inigo Philbrick, a former art dealer.
- What
- Philbrick swindled art collectors out of millions through fraudulent art deals.
- When
- The documentary was released recently; Philbrick's crimes occurred prior.
- Where
- The art world, and the US jail.
- Why
- Philbrick's finances unraveled after a bad sale, leading him to commit fraud.
- Subject
- Inigo Philbrick, art dealer
- Crime
- Wire fraud
- Fraud Amount
- £86 million
- Sentence
- Seven years in US jail
- Documentary Title
- The Great Art Fraud