David Choe Net Worth: David Choe is one of the most successful and influential graffiti artists of all time. He rose from humble beginnings as a troubled teenager to become a pop culture icon with a $300 million net worth.
But how did Choe go from spray painting trains to having almost a third of a billion dollars in the bank? 🤔 His journey has been anything but conventional.
Let’s take a look at David Choe’s background, his various income sources, and how he was able to amass such an immense fortune.
- 1 Introduction: The Unorthodox Rise of David Choe 🚀
- 2 David Choe’s Net Worth in 2023: $300 Million 💵
- 3 Facebook Stock: The Cornerstone of David Choe’s Fortune 📈
- 4 Selling Artwork: Tens of Millions in Revenue 🎨
- 5 Podcasting & Online Content: $5 Million+
- 6 Graphic Novels: $2 Million+
- 7 Other Assets & Ventures
- 8 David Choe Net Worth Milestones Timeline ⏳
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions ❓
- 10 David Choe’s Unconventional Path to $300 Million Net Worth 💰
Introduction: The Unorthodox Rise of David Choe 🚀
David Choe was born in 1976 in Los Angeles to Korean immigrant parents. As a teenager he dropped out of high school and embarked on travels across the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia while honing his skills as a graffiti artist.
In the 1990s Choe began illustrating for magazines and exhibiting his artwork in galleries. His gritty, graphic style depicting urban life soon attracted celebrity fans.
But it was Choe’s unconventional gamble on Facebook stock that catapulted him to elite financial status. When offered $60,000 or Facebook shares for painting company HQ murals, he chose stock now worth $200 million+.
Choe has expanded into graphic novels, podcasts, acting and more – but art remains his creative passion and prime source of wealth.
David Choe’s Net Worth in 2023: $300 Million 💵
According to numerous sources, David Choe’s current net worth is estimated at $300 million as of 2023.
Although not technically a billionaire, Choe has cultivated one of the largest personal fortunes of any graffiti artist in history through his artistic talents, early investment in Facebook, and multimedia ventures.
Much of Choe’s net worth stems from the exponential increase in value of his Facebook stock holdings. But he has also earned tens of millions from selling his provocative artwork over the past two decades.
Let’s analyze the main sources contributing to David Choe’s massive $300 million net worth:
- Facebook stock – $200+ million
- Artwork sales – $50+ million
- Podcasting/web shows – $5+ million
- Graphic novels – $2+ million
- Investments/other assets – $50+ million
Now let’s look at each of the key income sources in Choe’s wealth profile.
Facebook Stock: The Cornerstone of David Choe’s Fortune 📈
David Choe’s single most lucrative asset is his Facebook stock holdings. Their meteoric rise in value forms the basis of his $300 million net worth.
In 2005, Choe was commissioned by Facebook co-founder Sean Parker to paint murals for the company’s first Silicon Valley headquarters. He was offered a choice between $60,000 in cash or Facebook shares as payment.
Choe picked the stock option – a decision that made him wildly rich after Facebook went public in 2012. His shares ballooned from mere thousands to over $200 million at one point.
Although Choe has diversified and sold some of his Facebook stock since then, it remains the biggest contributor to his personal wealth – proving his artistic skills coupled with one gutsy investment paid off hugely.
Selling Artwork: Tens of Millions in Revenue 🎨
While Facebook stock may form the bedrock of David Choe’s wealth, his prolific art career is what kickstarted his success. As a graffiti artist in the 1990s he began exhibiting work and illustrating for magazines.
Choe’s early gritty, graphic paintings depicting urban life soon attracted high-profile collectors from the entertainment industry. His fame grew thanks to exhibitions at galleries across the US and Europe.
According to various estimates, Choe has likely earned over $50 million selling artwork over the past 25 years. His pieces now sell for anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000+.
As his reputation grew, brand partnerships followed. Choe has collaborated with companies like Nike, Supreme, Absolut Vodka and Samsung on limited edition product lines featuring his signature artistic style.
While Facebook stock may form the larger part of his net worth, art sales have contributed tens of millions to Choe’s fortune.
Podcasting & Online Content: $5 Million+
In addition to traditional visual art, Choe has earned millions from online content creation. He co-hosted a podcast called DVDASA from 2010-2014 which discussed pop culture, current events and Choe’s adventurous lifestyle.
The podcast built a cult following and likely earned Choe a healthy income through sponsorships, ads and merchandise sales.
Choe also hosted the pop culture web series Thumbs Up! from 2007-2010 in collaboration with Vice. Together, his podcasting and web show income over the years is estimated at over $5 million.
Graphic Novels: $2 Million+
Before making it big as a gallery artist, Choe started out drawing graphic novels. In 1996 he published the novel Slow Jams which established his illustrating skills.
While graphic novel earnings are dwarfed by his other income sources, early books like Slow Jams still contributed around $2 million+ to David Choe’s net worth in total.
Other Assets & Ventures
In addition to his primary income streams, David Choe has earned millions from side ventures and savvy investments.
- Acting – Choe earned over $1 million combined for acting roles in movies like The Sex Addict, The Method and Netflix’s Beef.
- Art business investments – Choe has invested in art-related startups and serves as an advisor for artists. These business stakes contribute around $5 million.
- Fine art and collectibles – Choe has a valuable collection of elite artwork and rare collectibles worth $10+ million.
- Real estate – He owns luxury homes in LA, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong representing over $20 million in real estate assets.
Combined, Choe’s smattering of other assets and business ventures amount to over $50 million in miscellaneous net worth.
David Choe Net Worth Milestones Timeline ⏳
- Early 2000s: $1-2 million
- 2010: $20 million
- 2015: $100 million
- 2020: $200 million
- 2023: $300 million
Choe’s net worth experienced rapid growth between 2010-2015 as his Facebook shares soared in value following the company’s IPO and art prices climbed. He joins an elite club of ultra-wealthy artists.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
How much is David Choe’s art worth?
David Choe’s individual artworks now sell for $10,000 to $300,000+ at auction and directly through galleries. His total art sales since the 1990s likely exceed $50 million.
What is David Choe’s Facebook stock worth?
At their peak, Choe’s Facebook shares were valued at over $200 million. He has diversified and sold some stock but still likely holds shares worth $100+ million.
What is David Choe’s podcast?
Choe formerly co-hosted a popular podcast called DVDASA from 2010-2014 which discussed pop culture, art and his personal lifestyle.
Where does David Choe live?
Choe has luxury homes in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong worth tens of millions in total real estate assets.
How much did Choe make from Netflix’s Beef?
Choe likely earned over $1 million for his main role in the 2022 Netflix drama series Beef. The exposure also boosted his art income.
David Choe’s Unconventional Path to $300 Million Net Worth 💰
In summary, David Choe took an unconventional and winding road to building his $300 million fortune. Dropping out of school to paint trains eventually led to gallery fame and a bet on Facebook that paid off immensely.
While controversy has followed Choe, his provocative art and bold personality have enabled him to amass one of the largest net worths of any graffiti artist in history.
As he expands into acting and other ventures, David Choe’s $300 million net worth seems likely to keep growing. His wild ride from teenage rebel to wealthy artist proves creativity and risk-taking can pay off hugely.
Choe’s diverse income streams and early embrace of social media demonstrate how modern artists can leverage online platforms and branding to build multimillion dollar fortunes. By following his creative passions – and taking smart investment risks – Choe achieved financial freedom.
For graffiti artists or other creatives aspiring to turn art into maximum wealth, David Choe’s success story provides an inspiring blueprint to follow.
