Remember the phony medical/Silicon Valley profiteer Elizabeth Holmes? Well, her trial started today.
Here’s a look at the key players to keep an eye out for...
thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
Elizabeth Holmes: The 37-year-old Stanford dropout and onetime self-made billionaire worshipped Apple and its co-founder Steve Jobs. An ex-employee told us Holmes "came off like a cult leader" and "wanted fame at all costs." thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
Sunny Balwani: The 56-year-old software engineer turned multimillionaire met Holmes in 2002, when she was a teenager in Beijing. Balwani served as the startup’s bad cop and former employees say he was a paranoid tyrant. He dated Holmes while at Theranos. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
The investors: The federal indictment lists 6 anonymous investors ensnared in their alleged scheme. One of the backers is likely Rupert Murdoch, who pumped about $100 million into Theranos after meeting Holmes at a Silicon Valley gala in 2014. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
Government officials: One of Holmes’ biggest fans was legendary Marine Gen. Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis, who would later serve, and resign, as Secretary of Defense under former President Trump. Mattis joined the company’s board after he retired in 2013. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
The employees: Tyler Shultz and coworker Erika Cheung became whistleblowers after discovering the devices malfunctioned and the startup was allegedly doctoring lab results. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
The lawyers: In 2011, Holmes hired lawyer David Boies to wage legal battles against former family friends and staffers. Investigative reporter John Carreyrou’s book alleged Boies' firm utilized “bare-knuckle tactics” to intimidate company informants. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
Walgreens patients and executives: Prosecutors allege Holmes and Balwani knowingly made false promises about their devices and misled doctors and patients when advertising Theranos “Wellness Centers” at Walgreens stores. thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
Want to learn more about the case against Theranos and everyone involved?
Read @kbriquelet’s in-depth explainer: thedailybeast.com/theranos-trial…
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