$16 Million Stradivarius Violin Smashes Record

A rare Stradivarius violin has smashed the world record after selling for over �9 million at a London auction with all proceeds going to help victims of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

A rare Stradivarius violin has smashed the world record after selling for over �9 million at a London auction with all proceeds going to help victims of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

An anonymous bidder at the Tarisio auction house paid �9,808,000 ($15,894,000, 11,076,000 euros) for the 1721 "Lady Blunt" Stradivarius, over four times the previous auction record for a Stradivari violin.