Is The Dropout Based on a True Story? Ending Explained
by Alaguvelan M
Updated May 04, 2023
The Dropout
The American biographical drama miniseries, The Dropout chronicles the story of the infamous biotechnology firm Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried. The series is based on a podcast of the same name, produced by ABC News and hosted by Rebecca Jarvis. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, the show delves into the rise and fall of Theranos and the deception and fraud committed by Holmes in her pursuit of success.
The Dropout marks the debut television production of Searchlight Television, and it was released on the streaming platform Hulu on March 3, 2022. Critics received the series positively, lauding the writing and performances of the cast, particularly Amanda Seyfried's portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes.
The show received six nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, with Seyfried winning the award for Outstanding Lead Actress. The series was also nominated for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film and Seyfried won the award for Best Actress at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
The Dropout is a television series that chronicles the life of Elizabeth Holmes and her biotechnology company, Theranos, based on the ABC Audio podcast of the same name. The show portrays the events that possibly motivated Holmes to engage in deception and dishonesty in chronological order, beginning from her pre-teen years to her unmasking as a fraudster.
On March 3, 2022, The Dropout debuted on Hulu with the initial three episodes released immediately, followed by weekly releases of the rest of the series. It was also released simultaneously in international markets through various streaming platforms such as Star content hub on Disney+ and Star+ in Latin America, as well as on Disney+ Hotstar in Southeast Asia and India.
Is The Dropout Based on a True Story?
The Dropout is based on the true story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. Elizabeth Holmes was a young entrepreneur who founded Theranos in 2003, with the goal of developing a groundbreaking blood testing device that could quickly and inexpensively detect a range of diseases from a single drop of blood. Holmes' vision and ambition attracted significant investment capital, and at its peak, Theranos was valued at $9 billion.
As the company grew, concerns began to emerge about the accuracy and effectiveness of the blood testing technology. In 2015, investigative reporter John Carreyrou published a series of articles in The Wall Street Journal detailing the problems and inconsistencies in the technology.
This led to a series of investigations by federal agencies and criminal charges against Holmes and her partner Sunny Balwani. In 2018, both were indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The events depicted in The Dropout closely follow the timeline of these real-life events, and many of the characters portrayed in the series are based on real people.
For example, Amanda Seyfried portrays Elizabeth Holmes, Naveen Andrews portrays Sunny Balwani, and other characters include whistleblower Tyler Shultz, investors, and former Theranos employees. The series explores the rise and fall of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, as well as the ethical and legal issues surrounding the biotech industry.
The series portrays the company's deceptions and the culture of secrecy and the intense pressure that the company's employees faced. It also portrays the efforts of journalists, whistleblowers, and government regulators to expose the truth about Theranos and the potential harm that its technology could have caused to patients.
The Dropout is a fascinating portrayal of one of the most notable scandals in the tech industry in recent years and a cautionary tale about the risks of unchecked ambition and the importance of transparency and ethics in business.
What is The Dropout Based on?
The Dropout is an American biographical drama miniseries that is based on the true story of Elizabeth Holmes and her biotechnology company, Theranos. It documents the rise and fall of the company, which was known for its innovative blood testing technology that ultimately proved to be fraudulent.
The series closely follows the events reported on in the ABC News podcast of the same name, which features interviews with former Theranos employees and whistleblowers. The series premiered on Hulu on March 3, 2022, and stars Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes and Naveen Andrews as her partner Sunny Balwani. The series has received critical acclaim for its writing and performances, including a Golden Globe win for Seyfried.
Theranos was a Silicon Valley startup that claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood-testing device that could perform hundreds of tests with just a few drops of blood. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder, and CEO of Theranos, became a media darling and a symbol of female entrepreneurship, with a net worth of over $9 billion at the company's peak. However, it was later revealed that the technology behind Theranos was flawed and the company was engaging in fraudulent practices. Holmes and her former partner and COO, Sunny Balwani, were charged with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy.
The Dropout Ending Explained
The final episode of the podcast covers the conclusion of the criminal trial against Holmes, which took place in 2021. Holmes was charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The prosecution argued that she had knowingly misled investors, patients, and doctors about the capabilities of Theranos' blood testing technology. The defense argued that Holmes truly believed in her company and its technology and that her intent was not to defraud anyone.
In the end, Holmes was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud but was acquitted on the remaining seven counts. She faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count, but the judge sentenced her to only 10 years. Holmes is currently appealing her conviction. The podcast also covers the aftermath of the trial, including the impact on Holmes' former employees, investors, and patients.
It explores the lessons that can be learned from the Theranos scandal, including the importance of skepticism and due diligence in evaluating new technologies and companies. The ending of "The Dropout" provides a conclusion to the story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, but also raises important questions about the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and ethics.
The Dropout Plot Summary
"The Dropout" is a biographical drama mini-series that follows the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos. Elizabeth Holmes is played by Amanda Seyfried and is a Stanford University dropout who goes on to found Theranos, a healthcare startup. The series is based on the ABC Audio podcast of the same name, created by Elizabeth Meriwether.
The series premiered on Hulu on March 3, 2022, and has received critical acclaim for its performances and writing. "The Dropout" is the first television production to be produced by Searchlight Television. The show explores the rise and fall of Theranos, which was known for its innovative blood testing technology that ultimately proved to be fraudulent.
The show captures the events leading up to the downfall of the company and the consequences faced by those involved. At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series earned six nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, with Seyfried winning for Outstanding Lead Actress. It was also nominated for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film and Seyfried won Best Actress at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
Is The Dropout Based on a True Story - FAQs
"The Dropout" is a biographical drama mini-series based on the true story of Elizabeth Holmes and her healthcare startup, Theranos. It follows the rise and fall of the company, which was known for its fraudulent blood testing technology.
Elizabeth Holmes is played by Amanda Seyfried in "The Dropout".
Theranos ultimately collapsed due to the fraudulent nature of its technology. Elizabeth Holmes and her former partner Sunny Balwani were indicted on criminal fraud charges.
The series has received critical acclaim for its performances and writing, with Seyfried winning a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Holmes.
The series explores themes such as ambition, accountability, and the dangers of unchecked ambition.