25 Companies That Invested in the Worst Possible Things

Even the most prominent corporations sometimes suffer from severe bad judgment. Whether they chased trends, underestimated the market, or forgot common sense, some business decisions leave you wondering if anyone asked a single follow-up question.

From tech blunders to overly ambitious ventures, these companies bet the house on ideas that should have never passed the brainstorming session. Let’s count down 25 companies investing in the worst possible things.

25. Google and Google Glass

Google thought the future was wearable tech strapped to your face. No one wanted to walk around looking like a cyborg in beta mode.

24. Blockbuster and Enron Stock

Blockbuster once tried to cozy up with Enron by investing in their broadband video service. The partnership fizzled, and Enron imploded shortly after—talk about a double whammy.

23. Yahoo and Tumblr

Yahoo spent a cool billion on Tumblr, hoping to revive its cool factor. Instead, they tanked user numbers and lost most of that money in record time.

22. Quibi and Everything

Quibi raised nearly $2 billion to bring you short-form video for people who didn’t want YouTube or TikTok. Nobody asked for it, and nobody showed up.

21. McDonald’s and Pizza

McDonald’s thought it could compete with Pizza Hut and Domino’s by rolling out its line of pizzas. People responded by saying, “No thanks, we’re good.”

20. Microsoft and Zune

Microsoft thought it could take down the iPod with the Zune. They could not.

19. Juicero and a Wi-Fi Juicer

Juicero created a $400 Wi-Fi-connected juicer that squeezed pre-packaged juice packs you could already squeeze with your hands. Investors poured millions into it anyway.

18. Coca-Cola and New Coke

Coca-Cola tried to reinvent its iconic drink in the ‘80s. The backlash was so fierce, they had to bring back the original and call it “Classic.”

17. Facebook and the Metaverse

Meta spent billions trying to get people excited about living in a virtual world without legs. It turns out that most people prefer the one where gravity still applies.

16. Sony and Betamax

Sony thought Betamax would beat VHS because it had better quality. They forgot to make it cheaper, longer, or more convenient.

15. HP and WebOS

HP bought Palm and bet big on its WebOS for tablets and phones. The market responded with a collective shrug.

14. Nordstrom and Trunk Club

Nordstrom thought it could break into the subscription box world with Trunk Club. It was an expensive fashion experiment that no one wanted to keep.

13. Pepsi and Crystal Pepsi

Pepsi decided to release a clear version of its cola in the ’90s. The public response was confusing, curious, and ultimately uninterested.

12. Amazon and the Fire Phone

Amazon thought it could compete with Apple and Samsung with its phone. Unfortunately, the only fire it started was in the clearance bin.

11. Apple and the Pippin Console

Apple once tried to break into the video game market with the Pippin console. It was such a flop that most people don’t even know it existed.

10. Target and Its Canada Expansion

Target entered Canada with high hopes and empty shelves. The venture failed so badly that it became a case study in how not to expand internationally.

9. DeLorean and Gold-Plated Cars

DeLorean offered a limited edition of gold-plated cars. Because nothing says practical investment like 24-karat body panels.

8. MoviePass and Unlimited Movies

MoviePass promised unlimited movie tickets for less than a single ticket’s cost. Math said no.

7. Segway and World Domination

Segway thought their two-wheeled machine would revolutionize transportation. It became a mall cop punchline instead.

6. Kodak and Digital Denial

Kodak invented and buried the digital camera to protect film sales, which worked as well as expected. By the time they embraced digital, the market had passed them by, and so had the competition.

5. Abercrombie & Fitch and the “Cool Kids Only” Approach

Abercrombie leaned hard into exclusivity and edgy branding. The world changed, but they didn’t, and it caught up with them.

4. Nokia and Not Doing Anything About Smartphones

Nokia once dominated mobile phones but refused to pivot toward smartphones until it was too late. Now they dominate “what could have been” lists.

3. WeWork and Everything That Wasn’t Work

WeWork spent billions turning office space into a spiritual movement. Unfortunately, investors wanted profit, not enlightenment.

Read More: 15 Times Greed Took Down an Entire Company

2. Toys “R” Us and Not Evolving

Toys “R” Us decided to battle with Amazon without an actual plan. The result: kids and parents both moved on.

Read More: 20 CEO Blunders That Turned Into Full-Blown Nightmares

1. BlackBerry and Ignoring the Touchscreen Era

BlackBerry once ruled the mobile world but completely missed the touchscreen revolution. They bet everything on physical keyboards and lost everything.

Read More: 20 CEOs Who Drove Their Companies Into the Ground