Hopper, Mao and Warhol - and all the bullets in-between

Hopper, Mao and Warhol - and all the bullets in-between

This man

Andy Warhol, painted this picture

of Chinese Dictator Mao Xedong, which was then purchased by this man,

Dennis Hopper, in 1973. After the purchase, Hopper fired two bullets into the picture during a wild drug and alcohol fueled evening that had sent him spiraling into a vortex of paranoia in which the painting, somehow, turned into Mao, himself.

Warhol, considered the bullet holes unique, and Hopper, a collaborator. This, despite being shot on June 3, 1968 by this woman

Valerie Solanas. She fired three times, but only hit Warhol once - through both lungs, his spleen, stomach, liver, and esophagus, leaving him looking like this.

After Hopper's death from prostate cancer, the Mao picture was auctioned at Christie's. Considered a valuable item both for the bullet holes and the fact that it had been a "collaboration" between two iconic figures, it sold for $302,500. That's about $150,000 per bullet hole. Give or take.