Net Worth Ranker
What Is David Choe’s Net Worth?
David Choe, a multifaceted American figure known for his work as a painter, graffiti artist, graphic novelist, and muralist, has accumulated a considerable fortune throughout his career. As of 2025, David Choe’s net worth is estimated to be around $300 million. This impressive sum is primarily attributed to his artistic endeavors and, significantly, a savvy decision regarding Facebook stock in the early 2000s.
The Facebook Payday: A Stroke of Genius
In the nascent years of Facebook, David Choe’s distinctive graffiti art caught the eye of Sean Parker, then president of the burgeoning social media giant. Parker commissioned Choe to adorn the walls of Facebook’s Silicon Valley headquarters with his unique artistic style. During the negotiation phase, Choe initially requested $60,000 for his services. However, upon consultation with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Parker proposed an alternative: that Choe receive his compensation in company stock rather than cash. It was a decision that would alter the course of Choe’s financial life.
While the precise number of Facebook shares Choe received remains undisclosed, and his current holdings are not substantial enough to warrant reporting in the company’s financial filings, it is known with reasonable certainty that David Choe’s equity stake was valued at approximately $200 million at the time of Facebook’s initial public offering (IPO). Given the subsequent surge in Facebook’s stock value since the IPO, it is plausible that his holdings may have, at various junctures, been worth between $300 and $500 million.
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
David Choe was born on April 21, 1976, in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the vibrant Koreatown area of Los Angeles, he was raised by Korean immigrant parents who were also devout born-again Christians. During his formative years, Choe honed his artistic skills by drawing characters and scenes from “Star Wars” and “G.I. Joe.” In 1990, he was captivated by the burgeoning Los Angeles graffiti scene, drawing inspiration from prominent graffiti artists such as Hex and Mear One.
Choe’s educational path took an unconventional turn when he dropped out of high school following the destruction of his parents’ real estate business during the 1992 L.A. riots. He then embarked on a two-year journey of self-discovery, hitchhiking across America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. At the age of 21, Choe returned to California and enrolled at the California College of the Arts, but he left after two years.
Art Career: From Graffiti to Galleries
David Choe’s early forays into graffiti art led to a week-long stint in prison. Upon his release, he moved back in with his parents and began contributing his writing and illustrations to various magazines, including “Vice.” He also appeared in the “Vice” web series “Thumbs Up!” (2007–2010), which chronicled his adventures with his best friend, Harry Kim, as they hitchhiked and train-hopped across the U.S. and hitchhiked across China.
Around the time he became involved with “Vice,” Choe began a relationship with the pop culture store and magazine “Giant Robot.” After art galleries showed little interest in his work, David hung his artwork in the Melrose Avenue ice cream shop Double Rainbow. Customers liked it so much that the shop let him exhibit his work there for two years, and he would add a new piece every time one was sold.
In 2006, he self-published the graphic novel “Slow Jams,” initially making around 200 copies and giving them out at Comic-Con in 1998. After submitting the graphic novel for the Xeric Grant, Choe was awarded $5,000 to self-publish an expanded edition of 1,000 copies. The graphic novel was published in 1999 with a $4 cover price, but it has sold for hundreds of dollars on eBay in recent years.
For over a decade, Harry Kim filmed thousands of hours of David’s life, and it resulted in the 2008 documentary “Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe,” which is described as an “intense portrait of David Choe, a young near-schizophrenic street artist that devises numerous criminal schemes that afford him to hitchhike across the globe.”
After holding numerous solo shows in San Francisco and San Jose, in 2005, Choe was given a solo exhibit at the Santa Rosa Museum of Contemporary Art. His first solo New York exhibition, “Gardeners of Eden,” took place at Chelsea’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery in 2007, and the following year, he held his first solo U.K. exhibition, “Murderous Heart,” at the Lazarides Gallery in London and Newcastle.
In 2013, David held an exhibition of his watercolors at the Museo Universario del Chopo, Mexico City, and in 2017, he held an invite-only exhibit, “The Choe Show,” in Koreatown. Choe also designed the cover of Jay-Z and Linkin Park’s 2004 “Collision Course” EP and voiced the lead character in the 2007 animated film “We Are The Strange.”
Real Estate Investments
In 2010, David Choe expanded his asset portfolio with the purchase of a 6,500 square-foot mansion in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles for $3.1 million. The property, situated in a desirable location, became a significant part of his real estate holdings. In September 2022 David listed this home for sale for $6.9 million. The decision to sell the Los Feliz mansion suggests a potential shift in his investment strategy or personal preferences.
Other Ventures
David Choe is also known for his figure paintings and is identified with the bucktoothed whale in the graffiti world. He has worked for magazines like “Hustler,” “Vice,” and “Ray Gun,” and he co-hosted the “DVDASA” podcast with adult film star Asa Akira. Choe has published the books “Slow Jams” (1999), “Bruised Fruit: The Art of David Choe” (2002), “Cursiv” (2003), and “David Choe” (2020), and he was featured in the 2008 documentary “Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe.” He has also appeared on the television series “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (2013), “Vice” (2014), “Better Things” (2019), and “The Mandalorian” (2021).
Personal Life: Controversies and Philanthropy
Choe has been involved with several charities, helping raise funds for Wyclef Jean’s Yle Haiti and painting with at-risk children through The LIDÈ Haiti Foundation, which was established by The Office” star Rainn Wilson, and his wife, author Holiday Reinhorn.
In the early 2000s, David spent three months in prison after punching an undercover security guard in Tokyo. The incident took place as a result of the language barrier, and while Choe was in prison, he created more than 600 drawings with “the one pen his cell was allowed” and also made erotic paintings with tea, soy sauce, blood, and urine. After his release, he was ordered to leave the country and never return.
In 2014, David caused controversy after he stated on his podcast that he had exhibited “rapey behavior” toward a masseuse; he later said that the podcast should be considered a work of fiction. In 2017, several artists protested when Choe was commissioned to paint the Bowery Mural Wall, and artist Jasmine Wahi, who helped organize a performance in front of the mural, stated, “Our aim is to provoke widespread rejection of the continued normalization of rape culture by bringing visibility to the topic.” David apologized for his past comments, saying “I have ZERO history of sexual assault. I am deeply sorry for any hurt I’ve brought to anyone through my past words. Non-consensual sex is rape and it is never funny or appropriate to joke about.”
