David Choe Net Worth Overview
David Choe’s net worth of $300 million makes him one of the wealthiest artists alive today. This Korean-American graffiti artist went from painting walls illegally to becoming a multimillionaire through one smart business decision. His story proves that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the biggest rewards.
Most people know Choe for his colorful street art and those weird bucktoothed whale characters he spray-paints everywhere. But what really sets him apart is how he turned a simple painting job into a fortune that most people can only dream about. The guy basically won the lottery by choosing Facebook stock over cash back in 2005.
The Facebook Fortune That Changed Everything
Back in 2005, David Choe got a call that would change his life forever. Sean Parker, the guy who started Napster and later became Facebook’s president, wanted him to paint some murals at Facebook’s headquarters in Palo Alto. Choe figured it was just another gig and asked for his usual fee of $60,000.
Here’s where things got interesting. Parker offered him a choice: take the cash or get paid in Facebook stock instead. Now, you have to understand that back then, Facebook was just this college website that most people thought was pretty lame. Choe himself called it “a joke” and didn’t think it would amount to much.
But something made him take the gamble. Maybe it was his artist’s intuition, or maybe he just felt like rolling the dice. Either way, he chose the stock option and got about 0.25% of the company. At the time, that seemed like a pretty risky move for what was basically some wall paintings.
Fast forward to May 2012, and Facebook goes public at $38 per share. Suddenly, David Choe’s net worth exploded to around $200 million overnight. That painting job had just become the most expensive artwork in history. And as Facebook’s stock kept climbing over the years, hitting $171 per share and beyond, his wealth potentially reached $300-500 million at various points.
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
David Choe was born on April 21, 1976, in Los Angeles to Korean immigrant parents. Growing up in Koreatown wasn’t always easy, but it gave him a unique perspective that would later show up in his art. His parents were religious folks who ran a real estate business and probably never imagined their son would become famous for spray-painting walls.
Choe discovered graffiti when he was just 14 years old in 1990. He got inspired by some local LA artists named Hex and Mear One, and that’s when he started developing his own style. You could already see hints of the crazy, colorful work he’d become known for later on.
Things took a dramatic turn when the 1992 LA riots destroyed his family’s real estate business. Instead of finishing high school like a normal kid, Choe decided to hit the road. He spent two years hitchhiking around the world, traveling through America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Talk about an unconventional education.
When he finally came back to California at 21, he tried going to art school at the California College of the Arts. But sitting in classrooms wasn’t really his thing, and he dropped out after two years. Looking back, that decision to learn on his own probably helped him develop the unique style that would later make him millions.
Building an Art Career Before Facebook
After leaving art school, Choe had to figure out how to make money from his art. His graffiti work had already gotten him in trouble with the law, including a week in jail, but that didn’t slow him down. If anything, it made him more determined to succeed on his own terms.
His big break came when he started working with Vice magazine and other edgy publications like Hustler and Ray Gun. These weren’t your typical art venues, but they gave him a platform to showcase his provocative style. The magazine work provided steady income and helped him build a reputation in the underground art scene.
When traditional galleries wouldn’t give him the time of day, Choe got creative. He started displaying his paintings at Double Rainbow, an ice cream shop on Melrose Avenue. Customers loved his work so much that the shop let him keep showing there for two years. Every time someone bought a piece, he’d put up a new one.
One of his smartest moves was self-publishing a graphic novel called “Slow Jams.” He started by making just 200 copies to hand out at Comic-Con in 1998. After winning a $5,000 grant, he printed 1,000 more copies and sold them for $4 each. Today, those same books sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay, showing he had a knack for creating valuable art even before Facebook came along.
Life After the Facebook Windfall
When David Choe’s net worth suddenly jumped to $200 million, he could have easily disappeared into a life of luxury. Instead, he kept doing the quirky things that made him famous in the first place. The money just gave him more freedom to be weird and generous.
One of his most famous post-Facebook stunts was giving away $100,000 in 2014. He literally found the cash sitting in a shoebox in his room and decided to turn it into a nationwide treasure hunt. The winner got the money, a custom painting, and a free trip to LA. Only David Choe would think of something like that.
He did make some smart investments, though. In 2010, he bought a massive 6,500 square-foot house in Los Feliz for $3.1 million. When he put it on the market in 2022 for $6.9 million, it showed he knew how to handle money beyond just giving it away. Still, compared to his Facebook gains, real estate probably felt like pocket change.
Current Projects and Ventures
These days, Choe uses his wealth to fund increasingly wild art projects. His 2017 show “The Choe Show” in Koreatown was invitation-only and required people to sign confidentiality agreements just to attend. The whole thing was shrouded in mystery, which generated tons of buzz in the art world.
He’s also branched out into podcasting, co-hosting “DVDASA” with adult film star Asa Akira. The show was controversial, funny, and totally unpredictable, just like Choe himself. He’s appeared on TV shows like “The Mandalorian” and “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” introducing his art to even bigger audiences.
Choe hasn’t forgotten his roots either. He’s raised money for Haiti through Wyclef Jean’s foundation and worked with at-risk kids through various charities. Having grown up as the son of immigrants, he understands the importance of giving back to communities that need help.
David Choe’s Legacy in Art and Business
David Choe’s transformation from street artist to multimillionaire has changed how people think about art as an investment. His Facebook story has become legendary in both the art world and Silicon Valley, proving that creative people can make smart business decisions too.
His success has inspired other artists to think bigger about their careers. Instead of just hoping to sell paintings in galleries, they’re looking for ways to get equity in companies or negotiate better deals for their work. Choe showed that artists don’t have to be starving to be authentic.
The fact that a graffiti artist could make more money than most Wall Street executives has elevated street art’s status significantly. Museums and collectors now take urban art seriously, partly because of the attention Choe’s success brought to the scene.
Looking ahead, David Choe continues to balance his roles as artist, entrepreneur, and cultural icon. His story reminds us that in today’s economy, the biggest opportunities often come from the most unexpected places. Sometimes all it takes is the courage to bet on yourself and take a calculated risk.
