Special Charges, Net	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Special Charges [Abstract]
Special Charges, Net	Special Charges, Net In 2014 and 2013, Sotheby's recognized special charges of $20 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related to third party advisory, legal, and other professional service fees directly associated with issues related to shareholder activism, the resulting proxy contest with Third Point, and the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in its credit agreement. The amount recognized in 2014 is net of a $4.6 million insurance recovery pertaining to certain professional services fees incurred in defense of the litigation concerning the former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in Sotheby's credit agreement. Included in special charges in 2014 is a $10 million charge related to the reimbursement by Sotheby's of Third Point's documented, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the proxy contest and the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan. This reimbursement is part of a support agreement Sotheby's entered into with Third Point, Daniel S. Loeb, Olivier Reza, Harry J. Wilson and other entities affiliated with Third Point (together with Third Point, the “Third Point Entities”) on May 4, 2014 pursuant to which Sotheby's and Third Point settled the previously pending proxy contest for the election of directors (the "Support Agreement"). Pursuant to the Support Agreement, on May 4, 2014, Sotheby's Board of Directors expanded the size of the Board to 15 directors and appointed Mr. Loeb, Mr. Reza and Mr. Wilson (the “Third Point Nominees”) to fill the resulting vacancies. The Support Agreement also contains various other terms and provisions, including with respect to standstill and voting commitments entered into by Third Point, Third Point's withdrawal of the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan, and the accelerated expiration of Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan. (See Note 16 for information related to the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in its credit agreement. See Note 13 for information related to Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan.)

Special Charges, Net

In 2014 and 2013, Sotheby's recognized special charges of $20 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related to third party advisory, legal, and other professional service fees directly associated with issues related to shareholder activism, the resulting proxy contest with Third Point, and the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in its credit agreement. The amount recognized in 2014 is net of a $4.6 million insurance recovery pertaining to certain professional services fees incurred in defense of the litigation concerning the former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in Sotheby's credit agreement.

Included in special charges in 2014 is a $10 million charge related to the reimbursement by Sotheby's of Third Point's documented, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the proxy contest and the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan. This reimbursement is part of a support agreement Sotheby's entered into with Third Point, Daniel S. Loeb, Olivier Reza, Harry J. Wilson and other entities affiliated with Third Point (together with Third Point, the “Third Point Entities”) on May 4, 2014 pursuant to which Sotheby's and Third Point settled the previously pending proxy contest for the election of directors (the "Support Agreement"). Pursuant to the Support Agreement, on May 4, 2014, Sotheby's Board of Directors expanded the size of the Board to 15 directors and appointed Mr. Loeb, Mr. Reza and Mr. Wilson (the “Third Point Nominees”) to fill the resulting vacancies. The Support Agreement also contains various other terms and provisions, including with respect to standstill and voting commitments entered into by Third Point, Third Point's withdrawal of the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan, and the accelerated expiration of Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan.

(See Note 16 for information related to the litigation concerning Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan and the change in control provision in its credit agreement. See Note 13 for information related to Sotheby's former shareholder rights plan.)