Jeff Bezos Is Focus Of A Bizarre Petition Urging Him To Buy And Eat The Priceless 'Mona Lisa' — It's Not For Sale, But He Could Afford It

Many people are scratching their heads over a peculiar request: a petition urging billionaire Amazon.com Inc. Founder Jeff Bezos to purchase and eat the "Mona Lisa." 

The iconic masterpiece, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s, has withstood the tests of time. Over the centuries, it's been stolen, duplicated and even attacked with a teacup. But no one has ever consumed it.

The odd request comes from Kane Powell, a resident of Stevensville, Montana. Powell's rationale is as amusing as it is straightforward.

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“Nobody has eaten the ‘Mona Lisa.' … Jeff Bezos needs to take a stand and make this happen," Powell said. 

By this logic, consuming the "Mona Lisa" would be a groundbreaking act, shattering the barriers of what is deemed possible or acceptable in the world of art and culture.

While the thought of Bezos eating the "Mona Lisa" grabs attention, there's a more sensible option in modern art investment. Masterworks allows people to put their money into valuable artworks from big names like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso and Banksy. It has introduced a way for regular folks to invest in these pieces without buying the whole thing. Historically, adding contemporary art to a traditional mix of stocks and bonds offers better financial returns. Investing this way potentially boosts earnings and diversifies your investments, balancing out risks.

Trending: It used to take a fortune to own premium wine bottles, but right now, $25 is enough to get started in this $229.4 billion asset class.

What started as a seemingly whimsical wish has gathered momentum, with 18,868 signatures and counting. This digital movement, hosted on Change.org, might have begun in jest but has transformed into a form of digital performance art.

It echoes the sentiment of French author Marcel Schwob, who over a century ago proclaimed that to birth new art forms, one must break from the old. In this context, the petition can be seen as a contemporary response, a challenge to societal norms and conventions surrounding revered artifacts.

Housed at the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris, the "Mona Lisa" belongs to the French state. It's considered priceless because of its historical and artistic significance. But some experts and evaluations have estimated its value to be worth more than $1 billion dollars. It's unlikely that the Louvre would consider selling it. The "Mona Lisa" draws millions to the museum annually, suggesting that continuous ticket sales might be more profitable over time than a one-time purchase amount. The museum views the "Mona Lisa" as invaluable, prioritizing its preservation over costly insurance that would only compensate with money, not match its unique value.

While the idea of consuming such a treasure might seem outlandish, the fact that this petition has attracted attention speaks to the audacity of the digital age.

Some comments left by supporters highlight the humorous nature of this call to action. Angel Flores of Phoenix said, "Gobble da lisa." Meanwhile, Abhishek Ranjit of Kathmandu took a more dramatic tone, declaring, "This is the most important petition in modern times. Jeff Bezos needs to eat the ‘Mona Lisa' to save the world."

Arnau Alier added a philosophical touch with, "If not now, when? If not he, who?"

Bezos boasts a net worth of $161 billion, making him the world's second-wealthiest person on the 2023 Forbes 400. Forbes reports that his wealth has increased by $10 billion compared to last year, even after donating stocks valued at $700 million, primarily directed toward addressing homelessness and climate change.