How can I get LINQ to return the object which has the max value for a given property? [duplicate]

This will loop through only once.

Item biggest = items.Aggregate((i1,i2) => i1.ID > i2.ID ? i1 : i2);

Thanks Nick - Here's the proof

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        IEnumerable<Item> items1 = new List<Item>()
        {
            new Item(){ ClientID = 1, ID = 1},
            new Item(){ ClientID = 2, ID = 2},
            new Item(){ ClientID = 3, ID = 3},
            new Item(){ ClientID = 4, ID = 4},
        };
        Item biggest1 = items1.Aggregate((i1, i2) => i1.ID > i2.ID ? i1 : i2);

        Console.WriteLine(biggest1.ID);
        Console.ReadKey();
    }


}

public class Item
{
    public int ClientID { get; set; }
    public int ID { get; set; }
}  

Rearrange the list and get the same result

.OrderByDescending(i=>i.id).First(1)

Regarding the performance concern, it is very likely that this method is theoretically slower than a linear approach. However, in reality, most of the time we are not dealing with the data set that is big enough to make any difference.

If performance is a main concern, Seattle Leonard's answer should give you linear time complexity. Alternatively, you may also consider to start with a different data structure that returns the max value item at constant time.

int max = items.Max(i => i.ID);
var item = items.First(x => x.ID == max);

This assumes there are elements in the items collection of course.