How 'Disaster Girl' turned her viral meme into money!
Remember Disaster Girl? Well, here’s how she sold her meme and made loads of money!
Ever wondered if meme stars make money? Well, Zoë Roth (aka Disaster Girl) definitely did, and she cashed in big time.
Remember the meme of a four-year-old girl standing smirking in front of a burning house, looking like a tiny evil genius?
It’s the picture we used to describe everything from corporate scandals and relationship drama to, well… actual disasters.
The 2005 photo, taken by Roth's father during a controlled burn in her North Carolina neighbourhood, instantly became internet gold.
Fast forward to 2021, at the peak of the non-fungible tokens (NFT) gold rush, and Roth made a power move. She sold the iconic image as an NFT for $500,000 (about R7.5 million).
And then Roth made an even crazier move – she secured a 10% cut of all future resales, which means this meme keeps making her money.
So what did she do with her meme fortune? She paid off student loans, donated to charity, and set herself up for life – a comfortable life where she never has to work.
Meanwhile, Disaster Girl still reigns supreme on the internet, photoshopped into every catastrophe imaginable.
While we’re out here making memes for free, Roth just set the blueprint on how to turn viral fame into actual cash.
Moral of the story? Go viral, but make sure you get paid for it.
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