A fabricated buyout rumor prompted a real $1 million investment in Vice

Evidence

With McInnes and Smith on board, Vice pivoted from a community publication to a “blend of outright fabrication and almost confessional sincerity.” One fabrication proved particularly fruitful: The founders falsely claimed Canadian software mogul Richard Szalwinski wanted to buy the magazine. When Szalwinski read the lie, he invested $1 million of his real money for 25 percent ownership. — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 71

Categorization

• CANDY: Fun elevator anecdote — the founders lied about a buyout and the lie itself attracted the actual investor.