A graffiti artist who painted the walls of Facebook's first headquarters seven years ago is set for a bumper payday of $200million after he agreed to take Facebook stock instead of cash for his work. David Choe, 35, was asked to paint the offices in Palo Alto, California, in 2005, and was offered the choice by then-president Sean Parker of being paid a few thousand cash or the equivalent in shares. Now, after a blockbuster $5billion Facebook stock exchange flotation moved a step closer last night, he is one of at least 1,000 company employees finally on their way to becoming millionaires.
LINKY OFF THE WALL: Facebook IPO: Graffiti artist David Choe who painted first HQ set for bumper shares payday
Although Mr Choe reportedly considered the idea of Facebook ‘ridiculous and pointless’ at the time of his painting, he took the stock when offered the option, reported the New York Times. Now he could end up being paid more for the job than Damien Hirst got at a record-breaking 2008 Sotheby’s auction. Now a successful artist, Mr Choe refused to be interviewed about his windfall.
LINKY OFF THE WALL: Facebook IPO: Graffiti artist David Choe who painted first HQ set for bumper shares payday
Although Mr Choe reportedly considered the idea of Facebook ‘ridiculous and pointless’ at the time of his painting, he took the stock when offered the option, reported the New York Times. Now he could end up being paid more for the job than Damien Hirst got at a record-breaking 2008 Sotheby’s auction. Now a successful artist, Mr Choe refused to be interviewed about his windfall.
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