Let's start with betrayal.
In 2004, twin brothers studying at Harvard had the idea of a social network and hired a coding genius named Mark Zuckerberg to develop it.
Months later, Facebook was launched. But there was a problem - the twins were not part of it.
Enraged, the twins filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg.
Facebook's popularity has exploded.
In 2008 (after a 4-year lawsuit), the twins settled for $65 million – 20 million in cash and 45 million Facebook shares.
Most people would give up at this point. But the Winklevosses? Everything was just beginning for them...
Here's where it gets interesting: The twins held onto Facebook shares.
Even though they felt wronged, they believed in the company's potential. And it was the right decision:
With Facebook's IPO in 2012, its shares rose from $45 million to $200 million.
The success of their "rivals" was their big gain. But the story doesn't end there:
Let's fast forward to the summer of 2013.
The twins have heard of Bitcoin. Its price at that time was only $8.
They researched this new technology for months and came to the following conclusion:
This will be bigger than Facebook.
That's why they made a bold move that surprised everyone...
They bought 1% of ALL Bitcoins in circulation.
Cost: $11 million
Amount: 120,000 BTC
People called them crazy. “Magic internet money,” they quipped.
But their bet was not on currency. It was about a financial revolution...
To them, Bitcoin was:
• Its supply was limited (only 21 million in total)
• It was decentralized (not under the control of any government)
• It was free (you can send money anywhere, instantly)
They believed that Bitcoin could transform finance. But owning Bitcoin wasn't enough:
The crypto world was like the Wild West in 2015 – risky and unregulated.
The twins saw an opportunity.
That's why they founded Gemini, a regulated crypto exchange - you can think of it like an exchange for digital currencies.
Gemini brought trust to the crypto world.
He followed the rules, insured deposits and kept everything safe.
The twins have become Bitcoin's biggest fans, speaking at events and teaching people about Bitcoin.
You ask why? As more people use Bitcoin, its value rises. Here are the numbers:
In 2017, the price of Bitcoin reached $20,000.
Remember their $11 million investment? It was now worth $1.3 billion.
But they did not convert it into cash. Instead, they invested even more in the crypto world, expanding globally and encouraging crypto adoption.
This long-term thinking worked:
2020 has arrived. COVID has spread. Governments printed trillions of dollars.
Suddenly, people began to see Bitcoin as “digital gold” – a way to preserve wealth in uncertain times. In 2021, Bitcoin surpassed $60,000.
The twins' crypto empire was now worth billions of dollars.
Today, they are still working to make crypto mainstream:
• Pressing for clear laws for crypto
• Investing in the next big blockchain ideas
But the Winklevoss story isn't just about crypto. This is a masterclass in turning setbacks into opportunities:
Use rejection as a deflector.
Facebook's door is closed, but it has opened a window into a billion-dollar crypto future. Sometimes your competitor's success can trigger your own success.
Holding Facebook shares? A genius move.
Important lessons:
Spot the trends early and then invest with all your might. The twins didn't just buy Bitcoin; they built an ecosystem around it.
Always think long term and reinvest in a bigger vision.
Educate your market. By teaching others about crypto, the twins have grown both the industry and their own influence...
Be curious about new trends. This could be the next goldmine.
Don't let "No" stop you. Let it motivate you.
Remember: today's mishap could lead to tomorrow's billion-dollar idea.
What about your $65 million revenge story?
