Forbes Reveals Its Hall of Shame, Names ‘Most Dubious People’ To Make Their Annual 30 Under 30 List
Since Sam Bankman-Fried’s spectacular fall from grace this year, people have been talking more about Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. The list, considered prestigious but somewhat tainted by the likes of Bankman-Fried and Frank’s Charlie Javice, names 600 of the “brightest young entrepreneurs, leaders, and stars” across 20 categories every year.
“While our process correctly weeded out folks like Fyre Festival impresario Billy McFarland and, yes, even Elizabeth Holmes — one-time superstars who all wound up fraudsters — others slipped through,” the publication wrote. So this year, Forbes owns up to it by drawing up a Hall of Shame, which names the first 10 “regretful” choices, out of the 10,000 they’ve named so far (and the 100,000 they say they’ve vetted), that they’d very much like to walk back.
This new list of course names Bankman-Fried (from Under 30 Finance, Class of 2021) and Javice (Under 30 Finance, Class of 2019). So far, six out of the 10 belonged in the finance category, and at least five already belonged to the hall of shame less than three years after making it on their respective 30 Under 30 lists. Here are the rest that made it:
Caroline Elison, Co-CEO, Alameda Research, Under 30 Finance, Class of 2022 — The math whiz and sometime girlfriend of Bankman-Fried pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy for moving billions from FTX customers to cover losses at Alameda just a year after she made it on 30 Under 30. She was a key witness at the recently concluded trial that found Bankman-Fried guilty of all charges.
Nate Paul, Founder, World Class Capital Group, Under 30 Finance, Class of 2016 — Paul isn’t as big a name as the first few on the list, but he also made headlines this year when was charged with eight counts of lying to lenders and was later indicted on four additional counts of fraud and conspiracy. Paul pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is set to face trial in July.
Martin Shkreli, Founder, MSMB Capital, Under 30 Finance, Class of 2013 — Who can forget Pharma Bro, the a-hole and “most hated man in America” who jacked up the price of Turing-owned Daraprim, a vital medication used to treat parasitic infections, from $17.50 a tablet to $750.
Related: ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli Refuses to Cooperate With New FTC Investigation
Cody Wilson, Founder, Defense Distributed, Under 30 Law & Policy, Class of 2014 — the gun rights activist pled guilty to Injury to a Child in 2019. He was arrested for paying $500 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl he met on a website called Sugardaddymeet.com. The case required him to register as a sex offender.
James O’Keefe, Founder, Project Veritas, Under 30 Media, Class of 2012 — He was ousted from his own company in February following complaints from staffers and board members about his leadership style and misuse of donor funds on splurges including a flight on a private plane. O’Keefe is also under investigation by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for reasons that have not yet been made public.
Phadria Prendergast, Editor-in-Chief, Women Of The City Magazine, Under 30 Europe, Media & Marketing, Class of 2023 — It hasn’t even been a year since Prendergast was added to the good side of the list. A Forbes investigation discovered too late that her magazine was a pay-for-play scam and that she ran off with roughly $195,000 from 11 former customers. What’s more is that Prendergast could also have ties to the alleged cult Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, or SPAC Nation.
Steph Korey, Cofounder, Away, Under 30 Retail & Ecommerce, Class of 2016 — The luggage company founder was accused of bullying coworkers and enforcing a grueling workload in a story released by The Verge in 2019. This resulted in her walking from the company by the end of that year. She did go back in 2020 but met some backlash after she publicly criticized the media industry on social media. She ended up leaving the company again in 2021.
Lucas Duplan, Founder, Clinkle, Under 30 Finance, Class of 2014 — The mobile payment startup founder’s career was already down the year after he was put on Under 30 list for finance. By the end of 2015, he’d already spent the $30 million seed round he raised from A-list investors including Richard Branson, Peter Thiel, and Andreessen Horowitz, and downsized the company he rapidly grew, but still failed to deliver a product.
Information for this story was found via Forbes, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.