Pharmaceutical executive and notorious ‘pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli has sold the sole copy of Wu-Tang Clan‘s ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin‘ album, which he bought for $2 million in 2015, to an anonymous buyer.

The Auction

The album was auctioned off by the US government as part of a court-ordered sale to pay off Shkreli’s debts. The sale was handled by the US Marshals Service, who listed the item as “a unique Wu-Tang Clan album” on their auction site.

The Album

‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin‘ is a unique album produced by the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It was recorded over a period of six years, and features all surviving members of the group. The album was initially offered for sale to the highest bidder, with the stipulation that it could not be commercially released for 88 years.

Martin Shkreli

Martin Shkreli, also known as ‘pharma bro’, is a former pharmaceutical executive who gained notoriety for raising the price of a life-saving drug by 5,000%. He was later arrested and charged with securities fraud, and was released from prison in May 2020.

The Sale

The sale of the album was completed on July 27, 2021, with the buyer remaining anonymous. The exact sale price was not disclosed, but it is believed to be significantly less than the $2 million Shkreli paid for it in 2015.

What’s Next?

It remains to be seen what the new owner will do with the album. They could choose to release it commercially, or keep it as a private collector’s item. Whatever the decision, the sale of ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin‘ marks the end of a bizarre chapter in the history of the Wu-Tang Clan.

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