Zachary Crockett
Editor, Senior Writer, The Hustle

The time Pepsi got sued for a $33m fighter jet

In 1996, Pepsi ran a promotion that jokingly suggested entrants could win a military aircraft. One man took it very seriously.

Zachary Crockett • August 14, 2021

How employers steal billions of dollars from workers every year

Wage theft is one of the most prevalent crimes in the United States, affecting millions of low-wage workers. Yet, it goes largely unreported.

Zachary Crockett • July 31, 2021

Why are used cars so expensive right now?

A visual explainer of how secondhand vehicles became the latest victim of supply chain woes.

Zachary Crockett • July 24, 2021

The economics of dollar stores

A visual explainer of the numbers behind America’s ubiquitous bargain-basement chains.

Zachary Crockett • June 26, 2021

The thriving business of ‘Ikea hacking’

A growing number of companies are offering design tweaks for old Ikea furniture — and business is booming.

Zachary Crockett • June 19, 2021

Why is lumber so expensive right now?

An illustrated explainer of the factors driving up the market.

Zachary Crockett • June 11, 2021

What happens to your bitcoin when you die?

Cryptocurrency investors are beginning to think about the afterlife of their digital assets — and a burgeoning industry awaits them.

Zachary Crockett • June 5, 2021

The man who sold millions in counterfeit wine to rich collectors

How an unassuming young supertaster nearly pulled off the biggest wine fraud in US history.

Zachary Crockett • May 22, 2021

The economics of movie product placements

Today’s films are brimming with products from big-name brands. How exactly do these partnerships work?

Zachary Crockett • May 8, 2021

Why it’s nearly impossible to buy an original Bob Ross painting

The famed TV artist was one of history’s most prolific painters. But you’re not likely to find his work on the open market.

Zachary Crockett • May 1, 2021

The secretary who turned Liquid Paper into a multimillion-dollar business

Bette Nesmith Graham invented one of the most popular office supplies of the 20th century. Today, she’s largely been forgotten.

Zachary Crockett • April 23, 2021

The Midwestern grandmas who became stock market celebrities

In the 1990s, a group of elderly women from Beardstown, Illinois gained national fame for their stock returns. But there was a catch.

Zachary Crockett • April 17, 2021

Why Delaware is the sexiest place in America to incorporate a company

Nearly 1.5m companies are incorporated in Delaware. How did this tiny state become a mecca for corporate activity?

Zachary Crockett • April 10, 2021

Meet a guy who made millions on Bitcoin — then millions more on NFTs

How an Australian college student turned ~$4k into a fortune by speculating on the blockchain boom.

Zachary Crockett • April 3, 2021

The direct-to-consumer powerhouse you’ve probably never heard of

A little-known firm is quietly powering the direct-to-consumer efforts of some of the world’s biggest brands.

Zachary Crockett • March 25, 2021

People bought boats like crazy last year

Boat sales hit a 13-year high in 2020, thanks to younger first-time buyers.

Zachary Crockett • March 23, 2021

What the hell is a blank check company (SPAC)?

Special purpose acquisition companies — or “blank check companies” — are suddenly all the rage on Wall Street. What’s the deal?

Zachary Crockett • March 20, 2021

Why NFTs are suddenly selling for millions of dollars

What exactly is an NFT? What makes them so valuable? And what might the future hold for these digital assets?

Zachary Crockett • March 6, 2021

The rise and demise of Subway’s $5 footlong promotion

Subway’s famous promotion made the sandwich franchise billions — but the deal wasn’t as sweet for individual shop owners.

Zachary Crockett • February 28, 2021

How one woman changed the safety standards of the entire car industry

After Janette Fennell was kidnapped and locked in a car trunk, she fought her way to Washington to make vehicles safer.

Zachary Crockett • February 20, 2021

How are bitcoin created?

An illustrated guide to bitcoin mining, blockchains, and the “minting” process of cryptocurrency’s most popular coin.

Zachary Crockett • February 14, 2021

What does it mean to short a stock?

An illustrated guide to short selling, short squeezes, and the future of contrarian investing.

Zachary Crockett • February 6, 2021

The crazy market for the world’s most expensive pet fish

Certain specimens of the endangered Asian arowana have fetched up to $300k at auction. How did a fish become a status symbol?

Zachary Crockett • January 23, 2021

How one of the world’s fastest-growing startups burned through $300m

Jason Goldberg’s ecommerce company, Fab.com, was once valued at $1B. Three years later, it was one of the biggest startup flops in history.

Zachary Crockett • January 16, 2021

The Hustle’s best Sunday stories of 2020

A roundup of our readers’ favorite longform features this year — and a few that didn’t make the cut.

Zachary Crockett • January 2, 2021

The economics of Christmas trees

In America, Christmas trees are a multibillion-dollar business. But who’s making the money?

Zachary Crockett • December 5, 2020
The economics of Christmas Trees

The economics of Christmas trees

In America, Christmas trees are a multibillion-dollar business. But who’s making the money?

Zachary Crockett • December 5, 2020

The man who invented the Zamboni

How the son of Italian immigrants created a niche industry for ice resurfacing machines and cornered the market.

Zachary Crockett • November 28, 2020

‘Black Edison’: The 20th century’s prolific, oft-forgotten inventor

The child of freed slaves, Garrett Morgan invented early iterations of the gas mask and traffic light. Today, his contributions have been largely overlooked.

Zachary Crockett • November 14, 2020

The hidden economy of schoolyard trades

Some of our earliest lessons about economics happen in the schoolyard. We asked our readers to share their best childhood bartering victories.

Zachary Crockett • November 7, 2020

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