After being taken over by tiktok videos about Hulu‘s latest series, “The Dropout”, I decided I had to watch it. “The Dropout” is the true story of Elizabeth Holmes and how she scammed investors out of millions for her startup company Theranos. After I watched the first episode of this real-life drama series, I was hooked. I immediately binged the first few episodes and can’t wait for more. Due to its real-life origins, “The Dropout” is very deep and sparked a lot of curiosity in myself. Here’s everything you need to know about Elizabeth Holmes and “The Dropout”!
Steve Jobs
Elizabeth Holmes drew a lot of inspiration for her startup and persona from Steve Jobs and Apple. Steve Jobs dropped out of Stanford University which served as a reason to drop out for Elizabeth. Elizabeth also took collaborators from Apple to work in her company. Elizabeth supplied her team with all Apple electronics and devices, she even waited eagerly in line for the release of the first iPhone. Steve Jobs also served as fashion and wardrobe inspiration for Elizabeth, she started wearing a black turtleneck everyday just like Steve Jobs. It is very strange how much inspiration and things she stole from Steve Jobs in an attempt to make herself “look the part”.
Her Look
Although her wardrobe was inspired by Steve Jobs, she was very intentional and unique with her overall appearance. Elizabeth Holmes maintained an almost “messy” look. Her hair appears to be fried and just pulled back. Her makeup is done but is smeared and uneven. This look is meant to comply with conventional beauty standards while still looking slightly “off”. This is so male investors think she is attractive in a conventional sense yet not so attractive that she is stupid or incapable of being a CEO. This is a girl-boss move on Elizabeth’s part to appeal to the male gaze just enough to still hold her own. This look is carried through in “The Dropout” and Amanda Seyfried demonstrates it perfectly.
WalGreens
After watching the show, I was shocked Walgreens actually took a deal with Theranos without testing the machines, but it gets worse. Walgreens had 40 different Theranos wellness centers in-stores. Theranos testing centers were using inaccurate tests on real people causing them panic, damage, and no real grasp on their health. Due to the false information and tools, Wallgreens ended their contract in 2016.
Check out “The Dropout” on Hulu!