Redditor who sent GameStop stock to the moon is sued, accused of market manipulation (2024)

Keith Gill goes by several names online, including Roaring Kitty on YouTube and Deepf*ckingValue on Reddit. Now he'll be adding defendant to the list. Law firm Hagens Berman filed a class action suit on Tuesday against Gill, accusing him of exaggerated claims, misrepresented posts and other similar behavior as he helped kick off a market frenzy over GameStop's shares. At one point, enthusiasm for the stock pushed the struggling retailer's shares up more than 2,700% from the beginning of the year. In the process, Gillwas said to have netted more than $30 million.

"In order to motivate amateur traders, Gill fashioned himself as a kind of Robin Hood and characterized securities professionals as villains," says the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of plaintiff Christian Iovin, who participated in the drama. "Gill's deceitful and manipulative conduct not only violated numerous industry regulations and rules, but also various securities laws by undermining the integrity of the market for GameStop shares."

The suit is seeking punitive damages. Gill didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

See also: How to watch the GameStop stock hearing Thursday

The suit isn't the only thing Gill's facing this week. On Thursday, he and other people at the center of the GameStop stock drama will participate in a hearing held by the US House Committee on Financial Services. The hearing, called"Game Stopped? Who Wins and Loses When Short Sellers, Social Media, and Retail Investors Collide," is seeking an explanation for the stock volatility. The chief executives of social network Reddit, stock trading app Robinhood, and funds Citadel and Melvin Capital are also confirmed to attend. CNET will be streaming the hearing on ourYouTube channelwhen it begins around 9 a.m. PT/noon ET.

One question facing Congress is whether any bad behavior happened as the stock's price swung wildly. Reddit users are accusing hedge funds and Robinhood of attempting to manipulate the stock market, shutting off trading of GameStop's shares as they began falling from their peak of about $483.

As for Gill, in written hearing testimony posted Wednesday, he insisted he acted properly.

"I did not solicit anyone to buy or sell the stock for my own profit," he said. "I did not belong to any groups trying to create movements in the stock price. I never had a financial relationship with any hedge fund. I had no information about GameStop except what was public. I did not know any people inside the company, and I never spoke to any insider."

And though the company's share price has fallen, Gill said he still believes it's undervalued, closing his testimony with an internet meme: "In short, I like the stock."

Redditor who sent GameStop stock to the moon is sued, accused of market manipulation (1)

Watch this: What does GameStop's skyrocketing stock have to do with a subreddit?

Redditor who sent GameStop stock to the moon is sued, accused of market manipulation (2024)

FAQs

Redditor who sent GameStop stock to the moon is sued, accused of market manipulation? ›

Redditor who sent GameStop stock to the moon is sued, accused of market manipulation. Keith Gill, who made millions off a surprise jump in GameStop stock, is increasingly under the spotlight. He insists he did nothing wrong.

What happened to the guy who started GameStop stock? ›

Gill dropped out of public life in 2021 after testifying before Congress about his role in the GameStop stock saga. It's unclear what he is doing today, or if he still owns his GameStop stock. The Enterprise.

How much did Keith Gill make from GameStop? ›

Keith Gill Could Have Made $48 Million From GameStop Stocks

However, he did confirm that his all-time high value in GameStop was nearly $48 million. Keith posted screenshots of how much his GameStop investment was worth routinely on the WallStreetBets Reddit page.

Who manipulated GameStop stock? ›

The “Reddit traders” joined forces to initiate a “short squeeze”; by collectively purchasing massive amounts of GameStop stock and thus driving up its stock price, the traders reaped significant profits and also inflicted huge losses on the hedge funds that had sold short.

Is the GameStop guy still rich? ›

While most assume he does, it is hard to say for sure, as he no longer posts video updates with screenshots of his portfolio holdings. As of 2023, several different sources reported Gill's estimated net worth to be around $30 million.

How much money did Keith Gill lose? ›

He did not sell the stock before the Congressional Hearing, as he endured losing $30 million in two days after the price dropped dramatically when Robinhood stopped allowing users to buy more shares. The final scene of Dumb Money shows Keith contemplating selling his stocks after the hearing.

How much did Kim Campbell make from GameStop? ›

In reality, Kim Campbell is a nurse at the Davis Center of Psychiatric Medicine living in Los Angeles. Kim's investment in GameStop rose to as much as roughly $50,000 whereas Jenny's financial gains in Dumb Money soared to upwards of $500,000.

Did anyone make money off GameStop? ›

Some big names lost money on GameStop, but others made a bundle. The same goes for everyday investors — some won, some lost, and plenty were just in it for the casino-like ride. Wall Street is paying more attention to individual investors than it used to, but they're not keeping CEOs up at night, either.

Why did the nurse in Dumb Money lose money? ›

Dumb Money does not entirely shy away from showing those losses; along with Gill, the film follows a handful of fictionalized GameStop investors, including Jennifer, a nurse played by America Ferrara, who becomes obsessed with Gill and GameStop stock, buys in big, and ends up losing money after failing to sell at the ...

How much money did the Mormon Church make on GameStop? ›

The fund made headlines in May, when its stake in video game retailer GameStop exploded from $867,000 to $8.7 million in a matter of months as part of social-media-driven speculation. It also rode Bed, Bath & Beyond and Blackberry for millions in additional gains but later sold all three.

Who owns most of GameStop? ›

According to the latest TipRanks data, approximately 53.76% of GameStop (GME) stock is held by retail investors. Vanguard owns the most shares of GameStop (GME).

How much is Gill worth? ›

While some sources suggest his net worth to be approximately $30 million as of 2023, the lack of recent public appearances from Gill since April 2021 makes it difficult to confirm his current financial status accurately.

Who lost money on GameStop stock? ›

Melvin Capital: Experienced a 49% loss in its investments in the early months of 2021 and required a $3 billion bailout. Citron Capital: Suffered 100% losses on its GameStop positions during the stock's bullish rally.

Who caused the GameStop scandal? ›

Mobilizing on Reddit and relying on user-friendly trading apps like Robinhood, amateur investors sparked a short squeeze in the market for video game retailer GameStop's GME -2.4% stock.

Is a short squeeze illegal? ›

Although short squeezes may occur naturally in the stock market the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) states that abusing short sale practices is illegal.

Did Keith Gill ever sell his GameStop stock? ›

At its peak, Reuters valued Gill's GameStop stock at $48 million. Those who have followed the saga are split on whether Gill ever sold any of the stock or if he's still holding onto most of it. Some believe he's lying low after selling some since his large following came from holding onto GameStop.

Who started the GameStop stock trend? ›

Keith Gill

What happened to GameStop investors? ›

The normie GameStop investors who recognized the opportunity for a short squeeze were right — the stock was over-shorted, they saw their chance, and they seized it. The episode took out Melvin Capital — even after getting extra money injected, the hedge fund eventually went under.

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