19/07/2026
Most millionaires collect luxury cars, yachts, or expensive watches. One 25-year-old football star spent over $130,000 on a 430-year-old book, and then gave it away.
That’s exactly what Erling Haaland did.
The Manchester City and Norway striker recently bought the only known surviving copy of a 1594 edition of Snorri Sturluson’s Sagas of the Kings at an auction in Norway.
The price?
Around 1.3 million Norwegian krone, or roughly $134,000, the highest amount ever paid for a Norwegian book.
This wasn’t just another rare collectible.
The book is considered one of Norway’s greatest historical treasures. Originally written in the 13th century by Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson, it tells the story of Norway’s medieval kings, its Viking heritage, and the country’s journey to Christianity.
Since Norway didn’t have a printing press in 1594, the book was printed in Copenhagen. Today, this is the only surviving copy, making it priceless from a historical perspective.
But what happened next is what makes this story truly remarkable.
Haaland didn’t buy the book to keep it locked away in a private collection.
He donated it to the public library in Bryne, the small town where he grew up and first dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
His only request was beautifully simple.
He wanted the book to remain open, so anyone who walked into the library could stop, read it, and connect with the history of the place they call home.
He explained that he wanted people to learn about those who came before them and understand the roots of their community.
Perhaps the most surprising part of the story is what he admitted afterward.
He said he has never been much of a reader.
Yet he still believes books have the power to help people dream bigger, discover new possibilities, and find their own path in life.
That says something important.