WeWork's IPO Implosion

SoftBank’s $47 billion valuation of WeWork—a company that leased office space but lacked sustainable economics—imploded to under $10 billion before its IPO was pulled, wiping out $37 billion in value. This implosion outpaced the typical startup failure by 5x in valuation loss, making it the largest valuation wipeout on this list. Reckless spending, bizarre governance, and a fundamentally broken business model were exposed, with WeWork burning cash at a rate that dwarfed even the most aggressive co-working rivals. The $37 billion drop not only dwarfs Nokia's Smartphone Fumble in absolute dollar loss but also reveals how easily hype can mask a hollow core when investors overlook fundamental metrics.