Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Agency	$ 825,126		$ 793,639		$ 717,231
Principal	69,958		30,638		26,180
Finance	33,013		21,277		17,707
License fees	8,484		6,902		6,124
Other	1,472		1,222		1,250
Total revenues	938,053		853,678		768,492
Expenses:
Agency direct costs	86,524		84,594		65,665
Cost of Principal revenues	68,037		30,307		21,118
Cost of Finance Revenues	8,740		0		0
Marketing	16,566		22,487		17,857
Salaries and related	310,934		297,450		273,273
General and administrative	158,796		175,458		158,220
Depreciation and amortization	20,575		19,435		17,942
Special charges, net	20,008		1,372		0
Restructuring charges, net	14,238		0		(2)
CEO separation costs	7,591		0		0
Total expenses	712,009		631,103		554,073
Operating income	226,044		222,575		214,419
Interest income	1,883		2,801		1,550
Interest expense	(35,189)	[1]	(42,712)	[1]	(44,429)
Extinguishment of debt	0		0		(15,020)
Other income	283		3,029		2,916
Income before taxes	193,021		185,693		159,436
Equity in earnings of investees, net of tax	732		15		251
Income tax expense	75,761		55,702		51,395
Net income	117,992		130,006		108,292
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	197		0		0
Net income	$ 117,795		$ 130,006		$ 108,292
Basic earnings per share - Sotheby’s common shareholders	$ 1.69		$ 1.90		$ 1.59
Diluted earnings per share - Sotheby’s common shareholders	$ 1.68		$ 1.88		$ 1.57
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 4.74		$ 0.2		$ 0.52

[1] Borrowing costs related to the Finance Credit Agreement, which include interest and the amortization of fees, are reflected in the Consolidated Income Statements as the Cost of Finance Revenues (See Note 9).