What in you opinion makes people pay big bucks for paintings?

Some people just like to collect things.  If it's junk they are called horders if it is artworks, stamps, coins, etc. they are called collectors.

For the status of ownership. Sounds odd, doesn't it. Hey...I own a 350,00,000 year old piece of fossilized wood. A geology professor I know said he has never seen anything like it. Status of ownership? Not really.

cause they like the paintings