🔴 23andMe filed bankruptcy March 2025 • 🔴 Total retail losses exceed $46B • 🔴 95% redemption rates in Q1 2023 • 🔴 Nikola founder sentenced to 4 years for fraud • 🔴 Average SPAC post-merger return: -55% • 🔴 Banks earned $8B in fees from SPACs • 🔴 59 SPAC-merged companies now bankrupt • 🔴 Mullen Automotive: 1-for-90,000 reverse split • 🔴 85% of de-SPACed companies trading below IPO price • 🔴 79% of post-merger SPACs still unprofitable • 🔴 29% of SPACs now trading below $1/share • 🔴 2021 vintage SPACs lost average 67% of value • 🔴 $362.7B total raised by SPACs since 2003 • 🔴 Sponsors risk $25K, receive 20% of equity • 🔴 Median redemption rate: 73% • 🔴 44% of de-SPACs issued going-concern warnings • 🔴 140 SPAC companies need emergency financing • 🔴 WeWork: from $9B valuation to bankruptcy • 🔴 Lordstown Motors: SEC fraud charges • 🔴 Virgin Orbit: $3.2B peak cap → bankrupt🔴 23andMe filed bankruptcy March 2025 • 🔴 Total retail losses exceed $46B • 🔴 95% redemption rates in Q1 2023 • 🔴 Nikola founder sentenced to 4 years for fraud • 🔴 Average SPAC post-merger return: -55% • 🔴 Banks earned $8B in fees from SPACs • 🔴 59 SPAC-merged companies now bankrupt • 🔴 Mullen Automotive: 1-for-90,000 reverse split • 🔴 85% of de-SPACed companies trading below IPO price • 🔴 79% of post-merger SPACs still unprofitable • 🔴 29% of SPACs now trading below $1/share • 🔴 2021 vintage SPACs lost average 67% of value • 🔴 $362.7B total raised by SPACs since 2003 • 🔴 Sponsors risk $25K, receive 20% of equity • 🔴 Median redemption rate: 73% • 🔴 44% of de-SPACs issued going-concern warnings • 🔴 140 SPAC companies need emergency financing • 🔴 WeWork: from $9B valuation to bankruptcy • 🔴 Lordstown Motors: SEC fraud charges • 🔴 Virgin Orbit: $3.2B peak cap → bankrupt

Estimated Total SPAC Investor Losses

$46,000,000,000

and counting…

Financial Forensics

Where $363 Billion Went to Die

1,320 SPACs tracked. 59 bankruptcies. $131B in peak market cap destroyed. The definitive investigation of the SPAC bubble — powered by SEC EDGAR data.

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR, Yahoo Finance, and academic researchBy TheDataProject ResearchDownload the raw data

The Damage Report

Sources & Methodology·

Data last updated: March 24, 2026

Total Raised

$362.7B

2003–2025

Bankruptcies

59

And counting

Avg Post-Merger Return

-55.0%

From $10 SPAC price

Bank Fees Earned

$8.0B

They always win

Below IPO Price

85%

Of ~300 de-SPACed companies

Below $1/Share

29%

85 SPACs under a dollar

Unprofitable

79%

Still losing money

2021 Avg Loss

-67%

Worst vintage year ever

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