and andy worhal's famous el i haves sold just shy of $82 million. november saw bids come in from 38 different countries. >> i've heard from collectors that given the high prices, it's almost not so painful to take one expensive thing off the wall as a hedge against invasion. >>reporter: with financial markets uncertain, sellers are choosing to cash in some of their wealth. given that headline grabbing prices have little to do with the wider art work, such buying may even harm it. >> the going pitch galleries and middlemen listen to the most is wealth and if that's the message, it doesn't take a genius to imagine that art today is going to reflect precisely those kinds of values so today the exclusion of others. >>reporter: others are critical of the lack of transparency in the market. nearly half the total price of lots were guaranteed during one week of sales. that means the auction house promises the seller a certain undisclosed amount no matter what happens with the bidding. >> they are being bullish on the fact that they can make money on these