Scamfluencers Business Wars Presents: The AOL-Time Warner Disaster
Aug 12, 2025
Dive into the chaotic world of the AOL-Time Warner merger, one of the most infamous corporate disasters. Discover the rollercoaster of emotions as initial excitement crashes into stock downturns. Explore the desperate measures taken by AOL's team to chase ad revenue before the merger deadline. Tensions soar as executives grapple with investor confidence and the future of their ambitious dream. This riveting tale unveils the complexities and ethical dilemmas behind monumental business decisions.
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Stock Price Becomes Negotiating Currency
- In stock-for-stock deals, share price functions as negotiating ammunition that leaders must defend.
- Falling prices can quickly erode leverage and invite deal abandonment.
Last-Minute Ad Scheme With Wembley
- AOL turned a $27M settlement into a last-minute $3M ad deal to hit quarterly targets.
- The team copied Wembley's artwork and ran $20M of greyhound ads without consent.
Crossing One Line Makes Repeats Easier
- Once a company manipulates results successfully, it lowers the bar for repeating deceptions.
- The team celebrated hitting numbers, normalizing questionable tactics.