Martin Shkreli Purchases Million-Dollar Wu-Tang Album ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’

In a somewhat shocking, yet not-so-shocking bit of news, that secret Wu-Tang Clan album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, officially sold to the highest bidder for millions. What's not really all that surprising is the fact that the highest bidder was life-saving AIDS drug price gouger, Martin Shkreli.

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was announced a while back, with the Clan vowing that they'd create only one copy of the album and bring it to the highest bidder, which they did so through Paddle8, an online auction.

Wu-Tang's de facto leader RZA reportedly has said, via Bloomberg, "We're about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of music. We're making a single-sale collector's item. This is like someone having the scepter of an Egyptian king."

As one could imagine, the sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin attracted "many suitors," according to RZA, including "hunters, millionaires, billionaires, unknown folks, publicly known folks, businesses," and many more.

Of course, among the group was Martin Shkreli, who eventually won the bid.

The high-priced album isn't the only music-related item the Wall Street'er has appropriated over the years. He reportedly purchased Kurt Cobain's Visa card via an auction through Paddle8, which Bloomberg notes he produces on occasion at dinner with friends "to get a rise out of people."

Furthermore, Shkreli once joked on Twitter that he held an interest in purchasing Katy Perry's guitar just to get a date with the "Firework" singer.

Through his purchase of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, Shkreli was also offered the opportunity to have lunch with RZA. Admittedly, the two didn't have much in common, he says, adding that he "can't say" he grew to know the rapper too well.

Perhaps because RZA was aware of some of Shkreli's past doings?