After a piece of banana-focused art called “Comedian” caused a stir, a similar piece centered on a Cheeto puff is also making headlines. According to USA Today, “Mischief” sold for $20,000 this week on eBay.
“Comedian” – featuring a banana taped to a white wall with duct tape – gave new meaning to “Arrested Development” character Lucille Bluth’s famous quote “I mean it’s one banana Michael, what could it cost, $10?” when it was sold for $6.2 million at auction this month. As Audacy reported, the piece by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan first debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.
At the time, it was met with confusion. While some thought it might be commentary on the standards of art, others thought it was a joke. For prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur, Justin Sun, the man who bought it, the work “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.”
Sun also said that he eventually planned to eat the banana. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, normal bananas generally cost less than $1 per pound.
Sun’s “Comedian” was the third edition of the artwork, according to Sotheby’s. Earlier versions were sold for between $120,000 and $150,000.
“No shade to the prince of potassium, but we think we can do better, so we’re holding an auction of our own,” said the Cheetos Instagram account in social media post from about a week ago. “Seriously…one lucky person will receive a single Cheetos Puff and some tape.”
In addition to “Mischief” (attributed to Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah), Cheetos offered the person with the winning bid “a supply of Cheetos in the amount equivalent to their bid.” Assuming that each bag costs around $5, that means the winning bidder should expect to get around 4,000 bags of Cheetos.
USA Today reported Friday that snack brand has not revealed the identity of the highest bidder. Musician J Balvin did comment “Meeeeee,” on the post, but we don’t have any other clues.
It may come as surprise that “Mischief” wasn’t the only Cheeto up for auction on eBay. When Audacy looked into powdered cheese-covered corn puff snack auctions Saturday, we found several shaped like male anatomy for up to $100; one that the poster claims is shaped like President-elect Donald Trump for $20; one the poster claims is shaped like former bodybuilder, actor and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for $20,000, as well as Cheetos shaped like dinosaurs, crucifixes and more.