Florida Woman Pays $50K to Punch ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL — A Florida woman has put up $50,000, earning the right to punch pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli in the face. The co-founder and former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals was called the “most hated man in America” after the company drastically hiked the price of an anti-parasitic used to treat AIDS patients.

Shkreli announced the Florida woman’s win in his fundraising contest via Twitter on Wednesday. He offered people the chance to slap or punch him in exchange for donations to benefit the family of one of his friends who died unexpectedly over the weekend. Mike Kulich, a pornographer, left behind a 5-year-old son, Tyler, who has battled leukemia.

Shkreli, who is also known as the notorious “Pharma Bro,” said via Twitter that “Katie will be permitted to ‘repeatedly pummel me in the face,’ as requested.”

Shkreli plans to match Katie’s bid. Her last name has not been released.

Whether Katie paid the price due to Turing's decision to increase the price of Daraprim from $13.50 a pill to $750 in 2015 remains unknown.

Shkreli defended the hike in a 2015 interview with CBS News. He claimed the drug was unprofitable at its former price.

"So any company selling it would be losing money," he told the network. "And at this price, it's a reasonable profit. Not excessive at all."

A GiveFoward campaign has also been established to benefit Tyler and his family.

"Mike never imagined leaving this earth so soon, and unfortunately did not have a life insurance policy to provide for Tyler's care," wrote Michelle Burr, Tyler's mother, on the GiveForward page of the campaign. Kulich also passed away weeks before he was scheduled to marry his fiancee, Erin Clark. "The money that is raised is going to go into a trust to assist with Tyler's college education and future medical care, since there are life long side effects of Tyler's 3 year battle with Leukemia. Mike would have given Tyler the world if he could, and he will be greatly missed."

The GiveForward campaign seeks to raise $15,000, and as of Sept. 29, it had raised just over $10,500, not including Shkreli's offer.

It is unclear just when Katie will get to claim her prize.

Patch editor Alfred Branch contributed to this report.

Screenshot via Martin Shkreli/YouTube