G-Dragon is at the center of a major financial buzz following his exclusive contract with Galaxy Corporation. The K-pop icon scored a 20 billion KRW (about $14.5 million) signing bonus when he joined the company in November 2023.
Half of that bonus—10 billion KRW (around $7.25 million)—was given through stock options, signaling G-Dragon’s faith in Galaxy’s future growth.
Sources reveal G-Dragon opted for stock due to expectations that Galaxy could become a unicorn company. The firm is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ market, aiming to hit valuations over 1 trillion KRW (approximately $720 million).
At the time of signing, Galaxy was valued at 470 billion KRW (around $338 million). G-Dragon’s stake is reportedly just over 2 percent, while CEO Choi Yong Ho holds 21.99 percent. Major investors include Shinhan Financial Group and KB Financial Group.
Industry insiders suggest this move shows a deep strategic partnership.
“An entertainer accepting stock options as part of a signing bonus shows a symbolic intention to build a strategic alliance with the company,” commented a source in the entertainment sector.
If Galaxy achieves its estimated IPO valuation, G-Dragon’s shares could skyrocket to between 20 billion KRW and 30 billion KRW (approximately $14.5 million to $21.6 million), boosting his initial compensation significantly.
G-Dragon is also known for his innovative projects, currently serving as an adjunct professor at KAIST. Recently, he teamed up with Professor Lee Jin Joon to beam music into space and collaborated with Microsoft on an OpenAI-powered music video.
Since its inception in 2019, Galaxy Corporation has been focused on AI and metaverse technologies within entertainment. The company has developed its own AI engines and virtual platforms, aiming to revolutionize commerce in the creative industry.
Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story!
