Dumb Money 2023

Keith Gill, portrayed by Paul Dano, is an average guy trying to make ends meet as a financial analyst at Mass Mutual in Brockton, Massachusetts. Despite his day job, he frequently immerses himself in the vibrant world of the stock market through the SubReddit r/WallStreetBets, where he livestreams his thoughts as the charismatic “Roaring Kitty.” Living with his wife, Caroline, played by Shailene Woodley, Keith often faces ridicule from his brother, Kevin, a hapless delivery driver portrayed by Pete Davidson, who dismisses his online escapades as frivolous nonsense.

As July 2020 arrives, alongside the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Keith makes a pivotal decision after noticing the plummeting stock prices of video game retailer GameStop. Believing it’s undervalued at just $3.85 per share, he invests his life savings and sells off $50,000 worth of other stocks to double down on GameStop’s potential. He passionately argues that a significant portion of gamers still purchase physical discs and that many buy used games through GameStop. His livestreams gain traction, attracting a growing audience of 412 loyal viewers who heed his stock advice.

As his followers begin buying shares, GameStop’s price rises to $10. However, skeptics like Kevin and peers continue to deride the venture. By January 2021, online activity on r/WallStreetBets alerts various hedge funds, including Melvin Capital Management, led by Gabe Plotkin, played by Seth Rogen, who have been short-selling GameStop, convinced it’s headed for failure.

In a twist of fate, Keith and the online traders rally to defend the stock against these hedge fund managers, sending GameStop’s stock price upwards, reaching $20. Under the belief that GameStop is a lost cause, Gabe shorts an additional 600,000 shares. This prompts a massive movement among retail investors, including Marcos, a GameStop employee played by Anthony Ramos, and a couple, Riri and Harmony, portrayed by Myha’la Herrold and Talia Ryder respectively, to buy up shares, mobilizing the full force of online traders.

Through the Robinhood trading app, this surge causes immense financial turmoil among hedge fund executives, culminating in Keith being celebrated as an unlikely financial wizard as GameStop stock skyrockets to $65, bringing him an astonishing $11 million in paper profits. Frustrated by his success, Gabe watches as Keith’s followers refuse to sell even when the price soars to $123, despite having lost $6.8 billion in short positions.

With retail investors now numbering around 8 million and maintaining their positions, the stock escalates to a staggering $350 a share, catching the attention of prominent financial circles, and even stirring discussions in the White House about the emerging conflict between retail investors and traditional finance.

However, complications arise when r/WallStreetBets faces temporary suspension due to inappropriate content, triggering panic and a sell-off of GameStop shares. The fallout forces Keith’s employers at MassMutual to threaten him with termination unless he resigns. Meanwhile, the Robinhood platform, co-founded by Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt, played by Sebastian Stan and Rushi Kota, respectively, halts all buying of GameStop shares under pressure from Citadel LLC, leading to a dramatic plummet in stock price—from $483 to $140.

This intervention, however, triggers congressional investigations into the hedge funds, trading platforms, and the stock trades themselves, with Keith being interrogated as a supposed manipulator of the fervor surrounding GameStop. In a bold statement, he refutes any allegations of wrongdoing and champions the actions of retail traders.

As the dust settles, Keith remains steadfast in his shares, inspiring his audience to reengage with GameStop trading. The aftermath reveals how the financial landscape has shifted: investments have been lost, people’s lives have changed, and the financial markets are now wary of the power of retail investors. With the hedge funds stripped of their underestimations, Keith enjoys a quieter life as he capitalizes on his opportunity, gifting his brother an expensive car while deciding to step back from his online presence. In a closing remark, it serves as a stark reminder that the once-derided retail traders have irrevocably changed the dynamics of Wall Street.