David Choe is an American painter, graffiti artist, graphic novelist, and muralist who has made a name for himself in the art world. Born on April 21, 1976, the 46-year-old is best known for his urban art style and controversial paintings that have brought him both fame and notoriety.
Though he started off as a graffiti artist in Los Angeles in the 1990s, Choe eventually transitioned to fine art and graphic novels, finding critical acclaim and financial success along the way.
Today, his unique artwork adorns museums, galleries, and public spaces around the world. With an estimated net worth of $300 million as of March 2023, Choe has clearly profited from his boundary-pushing creative talents. In this article, we explore David Choe’s background, artistic career, financial rise to fame, and more.
| Profession | Painter, graffiti artist, graphic novelist, muralist |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
David Choe Net Worth
As of March 2023, David Choe has accumulated an estimated net worth of $300 million, according to multiple sources. The artist largely built his fortune over his decades-long painting and artwork career.
After getting his start as a graffiti creator in 1990s Los Angeles, Choe gained recognition for his graphic novels and fine art pieces that have since sold for tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece. However, the bulk of his wealth stems from the murals he was paid to paint at Facebook’s headquarters in 2005.
Choe opted to take company stock instead of cash, which proved to be a wise investment as those shares are now valued at around $200 million following Facebook’s IPO and subsequent share price growth. Between these two income sources, Choe has managed to amass a personal net worth befitting his fame and critical acclaim.
| Net Worth (2023) | $300 million |
| Main Source of Wealth | Facebook company shares, Artwork |
| Monthly Salary | Unknown |
David Choe Joe Rogan
Here is his podcast with famous American podcaster Joe Rogan.
Movies and TV Shows
| Movie/Show | Year of Release | Role |
| Beef | 2023 | Isaac Cho |
| The Choe Show | 2021 | Creator |
| The Choe Show | 2021 | Executive Producer |
| The Mandalorian | 2020 | Ringside Spectator |
| Better Things | 2019 | Postmates Guy |
| The Reagents | 2013 | – |
| Violent Blue | 2011 | Ethan (as Dave Choe) |
| Rocketeer (Music Video) | 2010 | David Choe |
| We Are the Strange | 2007 | Rain (voice) |
David Choe Wife and Family
Not much is publicly known about David Choe’s family and early life. Reports indicate that he was born in Los Angeles, California in 1976. Both of his parents were Korean immigrants, but their names and additional background details have not been shared.
Over the years, he has not been romantically tied to any partners or seen attending events with a spouse. It appears Choe may not be married and does not have any children based on available information.
| Mother | Korean immigrant, name unknown |
| Father | Korean immigrant, name unknown |
| Siblings | None reported |
| Spouse | Single |
| Children | None reported |
About David Choe
David Choe has carved an unconventional yet highly successful career as an artist over the past 25+ years. He first made a name for himself in the 1990s as a graffiti creator in Los Angeles, where his street art garnered attention for its provocative themes and imagery.
Choe then transitioned to fine art, seeing his paintings exhibited at prestigious venues like the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles. He has also authored popular graphic novels like Slow Jams and Cursive.
However, Choe’s biggest break came in 2005 when he was commissioned to paint colorful murals on the walls of Facebook’s first headquarters. His compensation of company shares in lieu of payment ended up netting him around $200 million after Facebook went public. With his net worth now estimated at $300 million, Choe has certainly come a long way from his urban guerilla art roots while earning renown in the mainstream art world.
Social Media
As an artist with international renown, David Choe has a sizable social media following. He is most active on Instagram under the handle @davidchoe.
| @davidchoe | |
| YouTube | DavidChoe |
FAQs
David Choe is best known for his graffiti art and graphic novels depicting urban themes. He is also known for the colorful murals he painted at Facebook’s headquarters.
David Choe’s net worth is estimated to be $300 million as of 2023, mainly from his Facebook company shares.
David Choe was born in Los Angeles, California in 1976 to Korean immigrant parents.
Some of Choe’s major works include murals at Facebook, his graphic novels “Slow Jams” and “Cursive”, and fine art paintings exhibited around the world.
No, there are no reports indicating David Choe has ever been married or had children. He likes to keep his personal life private.
In closing, David Choe has made a significant impact on the world of urban contemporary art through his provocative graffiti works and graphic novels. What began as rebellious street art in 1990s Los Angeles later morphed into fine art paintings and murals that brought Choe critical praise and fortune.
His risky gamble for company shares rather than payment for adorning Facebook’s first headquarters proved to be a brilliant move after their IPO took off. Today, with an estimated $300 million net worth to his name and exhibitions featured globally, Choe has more than realized his youthful creative vision.
