It was yesterday announced that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will become the first person to fly to the moon aboard Elon Musk’s much acclaimed SpaceX programme, and the first civilian on the moon, with the expedition forecast for 2023.

After founding SpaceX in 2002 as a means of reducing the cost of space exploration and enabling travel to Mars, Musk’s debut passenger first made headlines as the drummer in a hardcore punk band. Since then he founded Japan’s largest online retail site Zozotown which he has since developed into a custom-fit apparel brand ZOZO. More recently he has garnered global attention for shelling out serious cash on art, most notably breaking auction records on a Basquiat painting. Twice.

Now, Mr. Maezawa will further his commitment to the arts by taking six very lucky artists on board the flight with him so that they can be inspired and produce “masterpieces” that reflect their experience upon returning to Earth. While the exact sum paid by Maezawa for the luxury get-away was not disclosed, Musk assured that is was “a lot of money”, despite the fact the rocket that will take them has not actually been built yet.

Hanging out with @yousuck2020 before the @SpaceX moon mission announcement pic.twitter.com/RTOwutzMtG

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 18, 2018