Business

Graffiti Art Worth $200 Million? It Is for This Artist Who Opted for Facebook Stock as Compensation

Graffiti Artist David Choe Earned $200 Million for Owning Facebook Stock

David Choe (Photo via Daily Mail)

With Facebook announcing yesterday it would officially go public — hoping for $5 billion in its IPO — shares in the company’s stock with be worth a lot. One graffiti artist who painted the company’s headquarters in 2005 — and at the time told the New York Times he found Facebook “pointless and ridiculous” — could be receiving shares worth $200 million.

How? The Daily Mail reports David Choe was given the choice between monetary compensation or the equivalent in shares by the president after painting the company’s first headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif. Choe chose the shares.

Graffiti Artist David Choe Earned $200 Million for Owning Facebook Stock

(Photo via Daily Mail)

Although the Daily Mail reports that Choe is not making a statement on this wise financial decision now, it does note that this amount is more than Damien Hirst received in his record-breaking sale at Sotheby’s in 2008.

Choe is also responsible for the later painting of Facebook’s new headquarters.

Graffiti Artist David Choe Earned $200 Million for Owning Facebook Stock

(Photo via Daily Mail)

Facebook’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission would be a new record since Google’s $1.9billion IPO in 2004.

Watch Cheo show CEO Mark Zuckerberg how it’s done:

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Comments (51)

1 2
  • Wakeup Maggie
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:50am

    good for him–talented guy. i wonder what he’ll do when the 99% start knockin

    Report Post » Wakeup Maggie  
  • rdietz7
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:48am

    If that kid doesn‘t start to wear a mask when he sprays thathe won’t even be able to enjoy the fortune this facebook gives him.

    Report Post » rdietz7  
    • politicojim
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 1:58pm

      no….he’ll just talk to joe, who has mesothelioma, and get paid AGAIN…. but his lawyers will get bank, from that meso fund.

      I know, I’m just being mean…..I hope.

      ~james

      Report Post »  
  • bluesdog
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:45am

    That poor guy!
    I hope he can handle the personal shame of being a One Percenter!

    Report Post »  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:13pm

      Don’t worry! The IRS will come to the rescue and relieve him of his windfall profits by looting him of 90%! OOPS!! That’ll still make him a “1%-er” with 20 million dollars! I’d be taking that stock before the market crashes, buying gold and getting the hell out of this country!!! Where I’d go I have no idea.

      Report Post »  
  • MaxMagician
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 10:43am

    This is a very lucky guy. Fortunately, he didn’t choose the same option when he painted the Pets.com headquarters back in 1999.

    Report Post »  
  • mils
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 9:15am

    fantastic to know someone has done well….i see graffiti in places and think it is really good, too bad these kids don’t have some training to put their talents to a good use..
    David is an artist. It is good that he was “discovered” and his talent has paid off… also that Mark was wise enough to use it… fabulous!!

    Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 9:31am

      I agree, some of the graphitti I see is pretty good. I just wish they would put it to good use. This guy made a good decision, even though he didn’t know what the heck he was doing at the time. He looks pretty talented. Talented enough to be in the graphic arts business.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • Joyzee
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:53am

    Face like a Book

    Report Post »  
  • eternal_vigilance
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:37am

    Will Sesame Street be suing for the use of their character’s likenesses or is this “fair use?”

    Report Post » eternal_vigilance  
  • love the kids
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:01am

    Now they will think differently about the 1%, it’s different now that they are one.

    Report Post »  
  • 00gabooga
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 6:05am

    I hope he uses some of that money to pay for the cleanup of private property he and his ilk have vandalized.

    Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • RandyOfLaramie
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 6:22am

      let’s see paint $35 profit $199,999,965, a little more than 100% so like what the Dems want to tax the profits of the oil companies over 100% this guys profit should be taxed at 100%

      Report Post »  
  • winstonsmith101
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 5:45am

    Occupy Facebook! Now they’re the “Fat Cats” that Obama should Hate! While they’re at it, the ‘hippiecrites’ should be Hating Google too. By comparison, Google stock is worth $580.00 vs. Exxon stock worth $83.00. Where’s the Hatred for Google and Facebook$

    Report Post »  
  • ZABO
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 5:40am

    the one thing i can’t stand is a liberal-man acting like a liberal-woman! also did you here m.z.(refuse to call him zuck) say to the china-man “thats why i got you here” tell me this little boy dosen’t have a chip on his shoulder.

    Report Post »  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:05am

    If he’s a lib this should open his eyes right?

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • wordsworth
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:04am

    Choe is a legend of street art, and train hobo art (he still rides rails and follows that tradition)…

    …but wow, he must have been trying hard to make those offices ugly. It’s a testament to Facebook they managed to succeed knowing they had that crap on their walls! Good for Choe.

    Report Post »  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:00am

    Way to go. This is America at its best. Love your work.
    Don’t let Obama get his hands on it?

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • patriotmom1776
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 1:45am

    Glad for Choe, but man – the art at FB is disturbing, particularly the elevator doors.

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:51am

    If he’s a progressive liberal… he’ll be broke in 5 years and owe the IRS a ton of money.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:48am

    Now he’s part of the 1% and will no longer be allowed at OWS Graffiti parties! : ( Too bad… So sad.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • skimdit
    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:35am

    Obama is the graffiti president. Cheap aerosol paint,And my ballz still itch.

    Report Post »  
  • FugMan
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:43pm

    Good for him! Only Libs become jealous at someone else’s good fortune. I wish I had done work for them at that time!

    Report Post » FugMan  
  • ericgt
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:49pm

    How/Who is Zuckerberg getting payed billions of dollars?
    the pennies as advert on facebook can’t be making that money.

    Report Post »  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:13am

      500 million people see hundreds of ads each per day.

      Plus he’s selling your information (what you like, what you say, who your friends are, what they like, where you all live, where you eat, etc) to corporations.

      Not to mention, corporations pay money to be associated with facebook. Private corporations create pages, facebook apps, and link their whole world with facebook all for a price.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
  • rhettnc
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:23pm

    my ballz itch

    -Cheech

    Report Post »  
  • skimdit
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:17pm

    The good is hard and it is rare.To pay or to ask for that kind of money for something which is neither good or rare is why this country is no longer worthy of survival.

    Report Post »  
    • PowerPC
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:50pm

      Good, especially in art is extremely subjective. What may be good to you could very well make me sick. As far as charging or paying what you consider “inordinate” sums of money for something that is neither good nor rare is honestly none of your business! A single cash transaction or a trade between two consenting adults for a product or service sounds like an excuse that could be used by the Obama administration to continue allowing this country to go down the toilet. It is no longer worthy of survival anyway so I guess we should start with artists of all types since their product is so subjective, and their survival is just a waste of valuable resources that someone with some worth to society could use.

      Report Post » PowerPC  
  • godhatesacoward
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:51pm

    I would have done the same but the way the tech market is growing, I do believe facebook has crested.

    Report Post » godhatesacoward  
    • grannyrecipe
      Posted on February 3, 2012 at 5:13am

      Yep, I think your right. They’ll be singing the Myspace song in the near future. The next new thing is always bubbling up. When these companies go corporate, they first forget about the user experience and second, people just get bored.

      Report Post » grannyrecipe  
  • phillipwgirard
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:16pm

    Where’s the groundhog news?

    Report Post » phillipwgirard  
  • JoshR
    Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:51pm

    Good for him!!

    Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love