Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s official portrait will come with a hefty price for taxpayers, reportedly coming with the steepest price tag in state history.
Coming in at $85,000, the former governor’s painting will cost more than what his three immediate predecessors spent combined, according to documents obtained by NorthJersey.com. Former governors Jon Corzine, Richard Codey, and Jim McGreevey paid $74,500 combined for their images.
The pricey portrait will be painted by Australian artist Paul Newton who is well known for his international portfolio that includes royalty and pop stars.
Christie will be paying for his portrait through a $250,000 transition account granted to former governors to pay for a number of services, office space, and staff members. The account, which is funded through taxpayer dollars, is typically used by former governors to pay for their portraits.
The governor and former 2016 Republican presidential candidate has been skewered in the past for his excessive spending which included a $475-a-night luxury hotel visits.
