By
Godfrey Benjamin
April 26th, 2024
The “Disaster Girl” plans to pay off student loans with the raised fund and to donate to charity.
Zoe Roth, the “Disaster Girl,” has generated nearly half a million from her popular meme, which was recently sold as a non-fungible token (NFT). Zoe sold her viral meme for $180 Ether. At the time of the auction, the sale was worth $430,000.
Zoe’s picture, taken in the front of a burning house in her neighborhood, was published in 2008. Her father, Dave, took the picture in 2015, showing Zoe with a devilish smirk in front of the burning building. After the picture was published, it triggered comments among internet users, becoming one of the most recognized images of the 21st century. The image then became a popular meme on social media and has been re-shared millions of times in the last 10 years.
Zoe Sells ‘Disaster Girl’ Meme As NFT
After years of not being in control of her picture and known as the “Disaster Girl,” Zoe got an encouraging email to sell her meme as an NFT in February.
By making an NFT of the “Disaster Girl,” Zoe and her father, who took the picture will have control over the popular meme. As an NFT, Zoe, and Dave will be able to manage the ownership of the viral picture.
Zoe said she and her father pondered on the NFT suggestion for weeks before agreeing to it. Also, Zoe spoke with her fellow celebrities whose pictures have been turned into memes. The “Disaster Girl” spoke with Kyle Craven of “Bad Luck Brian” and Laina Morris of “Overly Attached Girlfriend.
Zoe Plan to Pay off Student Loans with Proceeds from NFT Sale
Now 21 years old and a college senior, the “Disaster Girl” plans to pay off student loans with the raised fund. She also plans to donate to charity.
Zoe and Dave uploaded and minted their NFT before listing it for auction for 24 hours on Foundation, with the countdown starting after the first bid. The “Disaster Girl” token was listed on the 16th of April. The NFT was eventually sold to the highest bidder, 3fmusic, at 12:10 am on the 18th of April.
At Ether’s current price of $2,767.51, the 180 Ether made from the “Disaster Girl” token is worth over $498,000. Although the image was sold, Zoe retains the copyright. The NFT was coded so that Zoe will receive 10% of the sale every time the image is resold as an NFT.
Satisfied with the sale, Zoe commented:
“Being able to sell it just shows us that we do have some sort of control, some sort of agency in the whole process.”
Zoe said that the way her meme remains relevant and trendy over the years “is so crazy.” She added that she is “super grateful for the entire experience.”
With the ongoing NFT craze, celebrities have been cashing out in the space. Twitter Inc (NYSE: TWTR) CEO Jack Dorsey sold his first-ever tweet as an NFT. Dorsey sold his first tweet posted in 2006 for $2.9 million.