Sam Cox — also known as “Mr. Doodle” — rose to fame in 2017 when a video of him using a marker to draw all over a shop was viewed 46 million times in one week. Soon after, his doodles were selling for $1 million each and he was being commissioned by big name brands such as Adidas. In 2019, the 31-year-old’s dream came true when he purchased a mansion for $1.8 million. He planned to draw all over the house — starting in the main bedroom — with dream-themed doodles. The compulsive artist started working for 36 hours straight to finish the project, which he now thinks sparked a mental breakdown. By 2020, he had to be restrained, and was eventually committed to a mental facility. "I felt like I was in a game. You think health professionals and even family and friends are trying to hurt you,” explained Cox. After spending 6 weeks in the facility, he has now fully recovered. Cox admitted that he didn’t plan any of his drawings, but gave each room its own theme. He left no surface of the mansion untouched. Every wall, ceiling and all amenities, including the television and bathtub, were covered in monochromatic doodles. Cox’s wife Alena said she found the doodles “calming” and even drives a doodled Tesla.
