The Curse
Forbes 30 Under 30 celebrates young achievers. But a surprising number of honorees have seen their careers end in scandal, fraud, or failure.
Notable Falls
Elizabeth Holmes (2015)
- Honor: Healthcare
- Outcome: Prison for fraud
Sam Bankman-Fried (2021)
- Honor: Finance
- Outcome: Prison for fraud
Charlie Javice (2019)
- Honor: Finance
- Outcome: Charged with fraud
Martin Shkreli (2012)
- Honor: Healthcare
- Outcome: Prison for securities fraud
Why Does This Happen?
- Premature Validation: Early recognition can inflate egos
- Pressure to Perform: Expectations become impossible to meet
- Shortcuts: Some cut corners to maintain the image
- Lack of Oversight: Young founders often lack experienced boards
The Chronos Score Irony
These individuals had some of the highest potential Chronos Scores—young, wealthy, decades of compounding ahead. But potential means nothing without integrity.
The Lesson
Early success is a double-edged sword. It can accelerate careers or create pressure that leads to destruction. The Chronos Score captures potential; character determines whether that potential is realized.
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