Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
This article is from “Celebritology”, a video series hosted by creator Josh Lora covering pop culture and the moments shaping today’s cultural conversation. Lora is one of The Washington Post’s Featured Voices, an initiative spotlighting independent creators and their work.
Elizabeth Holmes was once the face of Silicon Valley ambition. Now, the disgraced Theranos founder is finding an unlikely second life online: as a Gen Z meme icon.
The renewed fascination comes amid the release of You Can See Everything, a nearly three-hour documentary from filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim that examines the convicted fraudster's life before and during her imprisonment.
But as audiences revisit Holmes's rise and fall, some creators are taking a decidedly different approach - ironically celebrating her as a misunderstood icon, even dubbing her the "People's Princess."
Why?
The answer lies at the intersection of America's fascination with rule breakers and Gen Z's particular brand of internet humor.
Holmes founded Theranos in 2003, promising to revolutionize health care with technology that could perform numerous medical tests using just a few drops of blood. The company eventually reached a valuation of nearly $10 billion, making Holmes one of Silicon Valley's most celebrated entrepreneurs.
But the technology could not deliver on its promises. Holmes was convicted of four federal fraud-related counts in 2022 and sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. Despite her downfall, Holmes remains a recognizable figure, thanks in part to the image she carefully constructed.
Her signature black turtlenecks, inspired by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, deliberately tousled hair and distinctive speaking voice helped transform her from a startup founder into something resembling a celebrity.
Gen Z’s internet humor often embraces absurdity, irony and a sense of nihilism. In that context, Holmes's cultivated persona, awkward public appearances and criminal conviction become elements of an elaborate online joke rather than disqualifying characteristics.
Her popularity also reflects a longstanding American fascination with outsiders who challenge established rules, even when their ambitions end in failure.
But the irony comes with a contradiction. Holmes continues to maintain her innocence, while her online persona increasingly blurs the distinction between ridicule and admiration.
In an internet culture where performance and authenticity are increasingly difficult to distinguish, even a spectacular failure can become its own form of fame.
This story is part of Featured Voices by Washington Post Creator, a team outside The Washington Post’s newsroom. Featured Voices highlights content from our network of independent creator who share their expertise, perspective and stories with The Washington Post.
