In 2005, Facebook offered graffiti artist David Choe $60,000 to paint their Palo Alto office. Rather than take cash, Choe accepted Facebook stock. When Facebook went public in 2012, his equity was worth $200M. | Steve-O

In 2005, artist David Choe was offered $60,000 to paint murals at Facebook’s office. Instead of cash, he took company stock...despite thinking the business would fail. When Facebook went public in 2012, that risky decision turned into a $200 million windfall, making it one of the most profitable art deals ever. This wasn’t just luck...it was leverage. Choe traded short-term payment for long-term upside. In business, asymmetric bets like this...where the potential reward far outweighs the risk...

In 2005, David Choe was just a graffiti artist asked to paint murals at Facebook’s office. Offered $60,000 in cash or company stock, he chose the stock...thinking Facebook was a silly idea. Fast forward to Facebook’s IPO, and his 0.1–0.2% stake turned into nearly $200 million, proving that calculated risk can sometimes pay off exponentially. The lesson for entrepreneurs and investors? Early-stage opportunities can create massive wealth if you’re willing to bet on potential over immediate reward.