Zoe Roth never imagined that her photo, known as "Disaster Girl," would lead to her earning thousands of dollars. Zoe Roth managed to sell her famous image from 2005, where she is seen smiling in front of a burning house, for $473,000 at a cryptocurrency auction.
The story behind the photo dates back to 2005 when Zoe, then a 4-year-old girl, survived a fire that broke out in her neighborhood. Her father, David Roth, followed her with a camera and captured several images of the incident, the most famous of which later became known as "Disaster Girl."
Following the sale, Zoe, who is now a college student in North Carolina, said she would donate the money from the sale to pay off student loans and other charitable causes. She told The New York Times, "The internet is a big place. Whether you're having a good or bad experience, you just have to make the most of it."
According to The Guardian, Zoe will retain the copyright to her image in the future and will receive a percentage every time it is resold. The buyer of Zoe's photo is believed to be a collector known as 3FMusic, who stated to Gizmodo, "The purchase was made in collaboration with highly knowledgeable and experienced advisors, who believe we should evolve with the technological movements that help us not only promote our work but also support artists and the art market."
