Napster Founder Sean Parker Pays $4.4 Million for Ai Weiwei Sculpture

Napster Founder Sean Parker Pays $4.4 Million for Ai Weiwei Sculpture

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Tech entrepreneur Sean Parker, founder of Napster and founding president of Facebook, isn't shy about flaunting his estimated $2.7 billion fortune. 


Two years after Parker came under fire for his $10 million Lord of the Rings–themed wedding, which caused environmental damage in Big Sur (Parker was ultimately forced to pay $2.5 million in penalties), he's making headlines again—this time for the purchase of an extravagant piece of art. 

Parker is the proud new owner of Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads (2010), which, as ArtNet reported, he bought at Phillips London in February for a whopping $4.4 million (a public announcement was made today). The stunning gold-plated statues are each 28-inches tall, and depict the Chinese zodiac signs. The piece is the seventh in a series of eight, and based on a set of 18th century sculptures created by Jesuits for a fountain clock in Beijing's Summer Palace. 

The sale also marked a new record for the artist. Ai's top sale was previously set at $1.2 million for his Map of China in 2014— mere pocket change for Parker. 

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