Crypto investor Justin Sun has a $6.2 million banana — and he’s going to eat it, too.
Sun revealed Wednesday night that he shelled out millions at a Sotheby’s New York auction for “Comedian,” a piece of conceptual art created by Italian artist and cultural prankster Maurizio Cattelan. The work, composed of a single banana duct-taped to the wall, almost immediately became a viral phenomenon when it debuted in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana,” he wrote in post shared to X.
“This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,” Sun continued. “I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.”
Sun, founder of cryptocurrency platform TRON, added that he “will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture.”
Bidding for “Comedian” started at $800,000, with 34-year-old Sun besting six other bidders. His final offer, $5.2 million plus $1 million in Sotheby’s fees, was more than four times the pre-sale estimate of $1.5 million. It came with a certificate of authenticity, directions for setup, a roll of duct tape and, of course, a banana.
The actual banana that was taped to the wall during Wednesday’s auction had been bought from a fruit stand in the Upper East Side for 35 cents, The New York Times reported.
