Apes to Ashes: Justin Bieber's $1.3M Bored Ape Now Worth Less Than a Used Honda Civic

Remember when celebrities couldn't stop flexing their cartoon apes? Those were simpler times, when NFT floor prices were climbing faster than newbs were learning what "diamond hands" meant. The vibes were immaculate, the JPEG discourse was endless, and everyone was convinced they'd found the Mona Lisa of the internet.

In January 2022, Justin Bieber dove headfirst into the NFT metaverse, purchasing Bored Ape #3001 for 500 ETH—approximately $1.3 million at the time. Because nothing says "I'm serious about Web3" like paying nearly five times the floor price for an NFT with relatively common traits. The man was clearly operating on pure FOMO energy, the same energy that makes people ape into any new narrative before reading the whitepaper. His transaction fees alone probably cost more than most people's monthly rent.

At the peak of NFT mania, owning a BAYC was basically a digital black card—your VIP pass to elite crypto social circles where you'd get access to exclusive Discord channels full of people posting "GM" every six hours. The belief was that these "blue-chip" PFPs would function like fine art, storing value for generations while their owners flexed on Twitter with their eyes half-closed. Celebrities from Eminem to Stephen Curry were joining the ape army, and the floor price was climbing faster than a freshly minted meme coin after a surprise Elon tweet.

Ah, the good old days.

As of April 2026, the BAYC floor has retreated to approximately 5.25 to 6 ETH. With Ethereum chilling around $2,000—because apparently $8,000 was too ambitious—Bieber's prized ape is now valued at a cool $12,000. That's roughly a 99% haircut—enough to make even the most degemoticon-wearing HODLer wince in pain. His monkey is now worth less than a decent used Honda Civic, which at least comes with four wheels and doesn't require you to explain what an NFT is at dinner parties.

The celebrity NFT portfolio autopsy reveals some truly brutal numbers:

• Justin Bieber's BAYC #3001: $1.3M → ~$12,000 (-99%) • Eminem's BAYC #9055: $462,000 → ~$78,000 (-83%) • Stephen Curry's BAYC #7990: $180,000 → ~$85,000 (-53%)

The variation in losses comes down to trait rarity and purchase timing. Because apparently, even in a 99% crash, some apes are more equal than others. Eminem's ape has better traits than Bieber's, which explains why his losses were only catastrophic instead of apocalyptic. Curry got in early enough that he's merely experiencing financial discomfort rather than full-blown regret.

The broader NFT market has cratered significantly harder than BTC or ETH during