Curious About David Choe’s Net Worth?
With a net worth of $300 million, David Choe is an American painter, graffiti artist, graphic novelist, and muralist. He is widely recognized for his figure paintings and his distinctive bucktoothed whale symbol in the graffiti community. Throughout his career, Choe has collaborated with various magazines such as “Hustler,” “Vice,” and “Ray Gun.” He also co-hosted the “DVDASA” podcast alongside adult film star Asa Akira. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Choe has authored several books, including “Slow Jams” (1999), “Bruised Fruit: The Art of David Choe” (2002), “Cursiv” (2003), and “David Choe” (2020). His life and work were featured in the 2008 documentary “Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe.” Furthermore, he has made appearances on television shows like “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (2013), “Vice” (2014), “Better Things” (2019), and “The Mandalorian” (2021).
The Facebook Payday Story
During the early 2000s, David Choe’s graffiti caught the attention of Sean Parker, the then-President of Facebook. Parker commissioned Choe to embellish the walls of Facebook’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. When discussing payment, Choe initially requested $60,000. However, Parker proposed that Choe accept compensation in the form of company stock instead of cash, a decision that proved to be exceptionally lucrative. While the exact number of Facebook shares Choe received remains undisclosed, it is estimated that his equity was valued around $200 million at the time of Facebook’s initial public offering. Given the substantial increase in Facebook’s stock value post-IPO, Choe’s holdings possibly reached $300-500 million at various points.
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Origin Story
Born on April 21, 1976, in Los Angeles, California, David Choe experienced a modest upbringing in the Koreatown district of LA. Both of his parents are Korean immigrants who later embraced born-again Christianity. In his youth, Choe developed a knack for drawing characters from “Star Wars” and “G.I. Joe.” His graffiti journey began in 1990 after being inspired by renowned Los Angeles graffiti artists Hex and Mear One.
Following his high school abandonment due to his parents’ real estate business being destroyed in the 1992 L.A. riots, Choe embarked on a two-year traverse across America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Upon returning to California at 21, he briefly attended the California College of the Arts before discontinuing his studies after two years.
The Artistic Path
Following a brief incarceration stint related to his graffiti activities, Choe sought refuge with his parents and transitioned to writing and illustrating for various publications, including “Vice.” He gained further exposure through the “Vice” web series “Thumbs Up!” (2007–2010), wherein his adventures hitchhiking and train-hopping across the US and China with his best friend, Harry Kim, were documented.
Simultaneously, Choe cultivated a connection with the pop culture emporium “Giant Robot.” Receiving minimal attention from traditional art galleries, Choe displayed his works at the Melrose Avenue ice cream parlor Double Rainbow. The favorable reception from patrons allowed him to showcase his art for two years, incrementing his collection with each sold piece.
In 2006, Choe independently published the graphic novel “Slow Jams,” initially distributing approximately 200 copies at Comic-Con in 1998. Following a successful Xeric Grant submission, Choe was granted $5,000 to self-publish an expanded edition of 1,000 copies. Although the original cover price was $4, resales fetched hundreds of dollars on eBay in recent years.
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Over a decade, Harry Kim documented thousands of hours of Choe’s life, culminating in the 2008 documentary “Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe.” The film portrays a vivid depiction of Choe’s life as a young, eccentric street artist entwined in various unconventional schemes that facilitated his global hitchhiking pursuits. Following numerous solo exhibitions in San Francisco and San Jose, Choe earned a solo showcase at the Santa Rosa Museum of Contemporary Art in 2005.
In 2007, Choe debuted his inaugural New York exhibition, “Gardeners of Eden,” at Chelsea’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery. The succeeding year witnessed his first solo UK exhibition, “Murderous Heart,” housed at the Lazarides Gallery in London and Newcastle. 2013 saw the presentation of Choe’s watercolors at the Museo Universario del Chopo, Mexico City, while 2017 featured an exclusive exhibit, “The Choe Show,” in Koreatown. Choe’s artistic repertoire also includes designing the cover for Jay-Z and Linkin Park’s 2004 “Collision Course” EP as well as lending his voice to the lead character in the 2007 animated film “We Are The Strange.”
Behind the Scenes
Choe actively participates in charitable initiatives, contributing to fundraising efforts for projects such as Wyclef Jean’s Yle Haiti and engaging in art activities with underprivileged children through The LIDÈ Haiti Foundation, established by “The Office” actor Rainn Wilson and his spouse, author Holiday Reinhorn. In a contrasting narrative, Choe encountered a three-month prison sentence in the early 2000s after a physical altercation with an undercover security personnel in Tokyo, stemming from a miscommunication. While incarcerated, Choe channeled his creative energy into producing over 600 drawings using the solitary allowed pen and crafting sensual paintings using tea, soy sauce, blood, and urine. Upon release, he was banned from reentering the country.
In 2014, Choe faced backlash after making controversial statements on his podcast, referencing past behaviors deemed inappropriate. He later clarified that the podcast should be construed as a fictional creation. In 2017, several artists voiced dissent over Choe’s commission to paint the Bowery Mural Wall. Artist Jasmine Wahi, instrumental in organizing a protest performance in front of the mural, articulated a desire to challenge the normalization of rape culture. Choe issued an apology for his past remarks, emphasizing a lack of personal history involving sexual misconduct and expressing regret for any distress caused by his words.
Property Portfolio
In 2010, Choe acquired a 6,500 square-foot estate in Los Feliz, LA, for $3.1 million. In September 2022, he listed this property for sale at $6.9 million.