I know it's hard to believe that Joker wasn't acquired for $50 at an overpriced Hollywood souvenir shop, however it is an acrylic painting by Bill Mack (or at least his signature is on it). He is well enough known to have
a Wikipedia page, and so evidently is able to charge nouveau riche midwits stupid amounts for kitschy "artwork".
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I suppose some money laundering could be involved, but it's likely the truth is simpler: trashy idiots like gaudy shit; Nick thinks he is just like the Joker irl fr; he's never had to work hard in his life and lucked into money (both with his grandfather's wealth and with his brief streaming success) – so why not throw $59,000 at some painting that speaks to his low-rent heart?
Mack also looks like a faggot, which must have appealed to Nick, too.
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