Stephen Colbert Portrait Sells for Big Money

It's funny sometimes exactly how different Stephen Colbert the person and Stephen Colbert the character on "The Colbert Report" really are. Case in point, Stephen Colbert just worked an entire room onto his side at a recent charity auction in order to raise the selling price of his self-portrait.

His character on his show probably wouldn't be at a charity auction in the first place.

Bidding got off to a quick start and reach $20,000 without many problems. But when the bidding slowed, Colbert stepped in and tried to sweeten the deal any way he could: "I will personally hang this portrait," he offered wildly, after also suggesting he could sign the artwork.

The bidding was taking place at Phillips de Pury & Company auction house for their "Under the Influence" art auction, with proceeds from this piece going to a children's art education charity.

"We're doing this for children. If you're not raising your paddle it means you hate children," Colbert reminded the auction crowd.

The portrait is a truly unique item, picturing Colbert saluting in front of other images of himself, like a hall of mirrors. Since its unveiling, the portrait has been modified by artists Shepherd Fairey (a street artist famous for his creation of the Obama "Hope" poster) who spray-painted "OBEY" onto it, and Andres Serrano, who put horns and a mustache onto Colbert's face.

After some goading from Colbert, the price eventually reached $26,000, and the TV host seemed satisfied...but not before offering to expose his chest for some Mardi Gras beads.