Big Business in TV Series: Succession, The Dropout, Silicon Valley, WeCrashed
Trader's Film Library #77 · Drama series. Four series about how ego and power in companies translate into investors' money.
Original title: Succession · House of Lies · Silicon Valley · WeCrashed · Type: series · Created by: HBO, Showtime, Apple TV+ · Usefulness for traders: ★★☆☆☆
What it's about
Four series in which money and power in companies are the main theme. “Succession” (HBO, 2018–2023, 4 seasons): the Roy family fights for control of a media conglomerate, with takeovers, shareholder votes and the share price at stake. “House of Lies” (Showtime, 2012–2016): management consultants (Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell) sell corporations expensive advice. “Silicon Valley” (HBO, 2014–2019): a comedy about a start-up, venture capital investors and valuations. “WeCrashed” (Apple TV+, 2022): the rise and fall of WeWork and its founder Adam Neumann, with a failed IPO in the background.
What it has to do with markets
None of these series is about trading. But they show where the information that moves share prices comes from: battles for control of a company, start-up valuations detached from results, IPOs and decisions made from ego rather than numbers.
Lessons for traders
- a valuation is a story until results verify it (the narrative fallacy, Atlas of biases #26)
- conflict in a company's leadership is a risk for its shareholders
- a founder's charisma is no substitute for a profitable business (the halo effect, Atlas of biases #29)
What to watch out for
Drama and comedy series. For a trader they're background and context, not market knowledge.
Discussion
The discussion takes place in Hetman Capital Club (in Polish). Join the discussion in the Club →
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The description outlines the plot without revealing the ending where possible (true stories have a known outcome). Educational content, not investment advice.