Facebook IPO Could Mean $200 Million Payday for Graffiti Artist
Wednesday's announcement of Facebook's $5 billion public offering, expected to value the company somewhere between $75 billion and $100 billion, is big news for some individuals even tangentially involved in the company.
The New York Times points to Davd Choe, a 35-year-old graffiti artist, who took stock options in lieu of a few thousand dollars when he painted a mural at Facebook's first offices in Palo Alto, California.
Commissioned by then president Sean Parker in 2005, Choe chose the stake (between 0.1 and 0.25 percent) in the website despite thinking it "ridiculous and pointless."
His estimated payment when the Facebook goes public is now somewhere in the vicinity of $200 million.
It's quite a sum of money for someone who describes himself on his own website as "homeless, wandering the earth, making good art and bad music."
Still, "homeless" seems to be a bit of an exaggeration. Chang's work has found its way into film sets (Juno, The Glass House), the cover of Jay-Z and Linkin Park's album Collision Course and even the White House.
Facebook's current headquarters houses "somewhat tamer" Choe murals, according tot he artist's own page on the site.
THR's Daily Must Feeds
-
Anderson Cooper Boots 'Barbie Mom' Off Show
-
Donna Summer's Funeral Packed with Music Legends
-
'Transformers 3' Injured Extra Gets $18 Million Settlement
-
Bret Michaels Talks Summer Tour, Health Issues
-
Beastie Boy Discusses MCA's Death For First Time
-
Robert Pattinson For 'Hunger Games' Sequel?
-
Minka Kelly Cast As Jackie Kennedy
-
Glee Recap: The End Is an Afterthought
In This Week's Magazine
Social & Mobile
- MOST SHARED
- MOST POPULAR
- 1
'American Idol' Champion Phillip Phillips Had 8 Surgeries During Season 11
- 2
Leaked Memo: 'Community' Studio Tells Cast How to Address Dan Harmon Firing
- 3
'American Idol' Finale: Original 'Home' Vs. Phillip Phillips' Version, Who Sang It Better? (Video)
- 4
Warner Bros. Prepping Top Secret Sci-Fi Project 'The Wind' (Exclusive)
- 5
Elton John Hospitalized With 'Serious' Respiratory Infection, Cancels Concerts
- 6
Mads Mikkelsen in Negotiations to Play Villain in 'Thor 2'
- 7
Fox, CBS, NBC Sue Dish Network Over AutoHop Ad-Skipper
- 8
THR Cover: Conan O'Brien: End of the Pity Party
- 9
Box Office Preview: 'Men in Black 3' Set to Dethrone 'Avengers' With $200 Million Worldwide Bow
- 10
Gary Oldman Joining MGM's 'Robocop' Remake (Exclusive)

