Facebook graffiti artist David Choe, from homeless to millions

(CBS) - Graffiti artist David Choe is hands-down one of the most surprising success stories to come out of the Facebook initial public offering Wednesday.

Full coverage of Facebook at Tech Talk

Choe was hired by then Facebook president Sean Parker to paint a mural at Facebook's first office in Palo Alto in 2005. When the mural was finished, Parker gave Choe the option of taking cash or stock options. At the time, Facebook was only a year old and only open to college and high school students. There was no "like" button, no revenue from advertising and no hype of a $5 billion dollar IPO.

Instead of taking cash, Choe took a chance and opted for the stock options. If you're not familiar with the Silicon Valley culture, gambling on a dot com has either failed miserably or made millionaires out of receptionists.

According to a Facebook employee, Choe was added on as an "adviser" and received 0.1 to 0.25 percent of the company. After you do the math, Choe's share could be worth $200 million. That's a mind-blowing figure, if you also consider that Choe has been homeless since painting that fateful mural.

In the aftermath of Facebook's filing and the value of his share of the social network, Choe took to his blog to express his disbelief.

"Have you had the dream where you ARE this guy?!? And then some kind of happy accident happens, and as you're in the middle of this glorious car crash, you stop to realize, that there is actually no such thing as an accident, and no chance encounters, and that everything has a direct purpose?"

Choe embodies a true tale of an artist's transformation from rags-to-riches in the most dramatic fashion. If Wednesday was a historic day for Facebook, it was also a momentous occasion for the American dream.

[davidchoe]

The "facts" in this article are all wrong. David made millions from his art and gambling before Facebook decided on doing an IPO. Watch his web series Thumbs Up! on vice.com. The times he may have been "homeless", were of his own decision. His documentary Dirty Hands also tells the real story.

[fadup]

Where does it say that he was homeless?

Good for him. Everyone else is just sad and bitter.

[RichZubaty]

There are a million artists like me who made better murals and are still homeless. Do't buy into this American Dream crap. It's media fluff.

[jasperlily]

I don't see the need for people's snide comments. Sad people. Sour grapes at the top of their list. I am very happy for this guy. That's all.

[jrb2k8]

homeless, but had a blog. That's priorities for you.

[democracy8]

And you have the right to judge him for pursuing his interests with a laptop at an internet cafe why?

[TheSockwaGuy]

Belief, commitment, and a relentless pursuit to fight about what you believe in, usually leads to success beyond your wildest dreams. The real question: Do you deserve it, and are you willing to work to the bone to get it?

This artist is pure and his ideals were sound. Payment is the scorecard. How did you do?

David Zasloff
Sockwa

[longtree-2009]

rags to riches story. especially for someone who just does graffiti. isn't america great? no wonder everyone all over the world wants to come to the USA by any means including illegally.

[Bojax39]

So, Choe has been homeless and still has a blog? Wondering how... ANYWAY, congrats to the guy for a shrewd business deal a few years back. :-)

[MegaProcrastination]

Probably via an internet cafe. It doesn't cost a lot to use one and setting up a blog at WordPress or other blogging site is free.

[wstmnstr]

public library