Jeff Koons turned 50 this year. Though hye disappeared for a while in the 90s due to some personal problems, in recent years his work has been selling for millions of dollars. “How did an artist who sold his works for relatively modest prices two decades ago reach such peaks? Collectors, dealers, curators, and auction specialists who spoke with ARTnews say that Koons has masterminded his fame and fortune through a combination of charm, guile, and a talent for creating expensive art that inspires critical debate.”