You’re Trevor Milton, an ambitious entrepreneur with zero engineering expertise but infinite confidence. Tesla is making headlines with electric cars. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

I start my own company, but instead of just EVs, I go for hydrogen-powered semi-trucks. Let’s call it Nikola—close enough to Tesla to confuse people.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Clever branding! Investors are intrigued. What’s next?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You need a product to sell the vision. What’s the plan?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Announce the Nikola One, a futuristic semi-truck with a 1,000-mile range and hydrogen power. Post a flashy render and promise a revolution.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Nice. No one asks if you actually have the technology. The hype builds.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

People want to see the truck in action. Do you have a working prototype?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Not exactly. But I can roll one down a hill and film it! We’ll say it’s moving under its own power.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Investors eat it up. Your credibility skyrockets.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

It’s 2019. You need a manufacturing facility. What’s the move?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Buy land in Arizona and announce a factory capable of producing 50,000 trucks a year. Investors stay excited.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Great! Just don’t actually build anything yet. Investors stay excited.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You need more funding. What’s your strategy?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

SPACs are hot! Merge with VectoIQ and take Nikola public. Instant billions! Investors believe you’re the next Elon Musk.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Your stock price soars. At one point, Nikola is worth more than Ford. Investors believe you’re the next Elon Musk.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Big companies are taking notice. Any partnerships in mind?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

General Motors. I’ll announce the Nikola Badger pickup and have GM build it for us. GM agrees to take an 11% stake. Your credibility reaches new heights.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

GM agrees to take an 11% stake. Your credibility reaches new heights.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Uh-oh. A short-seller firm, Hindenburg Research, just published a report calling Nikola “an intricate fraud.” They exposed the rolling-truck trick. What’s your response?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Call it a hit job and deny everything! Say we never technically claimed the truck was driving itself.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

The internet finds clips where you said exactly that. The stock tanks.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Investors are panicking. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Step down as CEO. That should calm everyone down.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You resign, but Nikola’s stock keeps crashing. GM bails on the Badger deal.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

The SEC and DOJ are investigating you for fraud. What’s your defense?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

I was just optimistic! That’s not illegal, right?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

The jury disagrees. You’re convicted of fraud in 2022.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

It’s December 2023. Time for sentencing. Any final words?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Nikola will still change the world!

01:10 AM · Apr 01

The judge gives you four years in prison.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Nikola is drowning in debt. The company files for bankruptcy in 2025. What do you do?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Well, that sucks. At least I still have money, right?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Actually, no. You owe millions in restitution.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Any last-ditch moves?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Can I get a pardon?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Surprise twist! In 2025, President Donald Trump pardons you, calling you a victim of “woke regulators.”

01:10 AM · Apr 01

So, what's next?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Let’s gooo! Can I start another company?

01:10 AM · Apr 01

You can try, but the internet will never forget that truck rolling downhill.

01:10 AM · Apr 01

Game IPO Successful!. Congratulations! Your company went public with a valuation of $3.3B.