A fruit seller is feeling ‘devastated’ after discovering that a banana he sold at a regular price was later auctioned for a staggering $6.2 million.
You might wonder how a simple fruit could fetch such a high price.
The banana became part of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork titled ‘Comedian.’ This piece gained international fame because it consists of a single banana taped to a wall with duct tape.
Earlier this month, Justin Sun acquired this artwork after competing against six other buyers during a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
“I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history,” Sun expressed on Twitter.
“I am honored to be the proud owner of this iconic work and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world,” he continued.
Shah Alam, a street fruit vendor operating outside Sotheby’s, sold the banana for just 35 cents. He was unaware of the banana’s astonishing resale price until a Times reporter informed him.
The 74-year-old, who works four days a week earning $12 an hour, learned about the substantial auction price only this week.
According to the Times, Alam was moved to tears when he heard the news.
He told the reporter: “I am a poor man. I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money.”
Living in a basement apartment with five other men in The Bronx, Alam pays $500 monthly rent and earns $576 weekly from his job.
Commenting on the artwork’s sale, Alam remarked to the reporter: “Those who bought it, what kind of people are they? Do they not know what a banana is?”
In response, Sun announced on Twitter that he would purchase more bananas from Alam’s stand.
He tweeted: “To thank Mr. Shah Alam, I’ve decided to buy 100,000 bananas from his stand in New York’s Upper East Side. These bananas will be distributed free worldwide through his stand.”
The distinctive art piece was first showcased at Art Basel Miami in 2019, where it was initially priced at $120,000.
Three editions have been sold, but none reached the extraordinary price of the version acquired by Sun.