Max Fosh Dissolves £500 Billion Firm to Avert Fraud Charges

I Became The World’s Richest Man For 7 Minutes — Max Fosh

Max Fosh

Selling a single share of an assetless shell company for £50 establishes an implied £500 billion market valuation on paper, but zero commercial revenue forces immediate liquidation under UK fraud rules.

AI-assisted summary of I Became The World’s Richest Man For 7 Minutes — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Max Fosh incorporated 'Unlimited Money Limited' at Companies House with 10 billion shares under the pasta manufacturing category, aiming to leverage a corporate valuation technicality. (0:00)
  • By selling a single share for £50 in cash on the streets of London's financial district, the enterprise triggered an implied market capitalization of £500 billion. (4:51)
  • A formal financial assessment confirmed the £500 billion valuation benchmark but warned that operating with zero revenue or assets risked immediate allegations of corporate fraud. (5:53)
  • Following an emergency phone consultation and refund with the sole external shareholder, the company was officially struck off, leaving Max Fosh theoretically the world's richest man for exactly seven minutes. (7:55)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by Max Fosh on February 13, 2022, this video documents an audacious experiment to technically become the wealthiest person on Earth. The video description playfully taunts Elon Musk with the phrase 'Come at me Elon' alongside links to Fosh's social media accounts.

## TL;DR Max Fosh exploits a corporate valuation loophole by registering a UK company, Unlimited Money Limited, under the pasta manufacturing sector with 10 billion shares. Setting up an improvised pitch table in London's financial district, he sells a single share to a pedestrian named Hope for £50 in cash, implying a legal market capitalization of £500 billion. Although a professional valuation advisor formally confirms the £500 billion market cap, they strongly advise immediate dissolution due to zero revenue and the imminent risk of fraud allegations. Fosh quickly conducts an emergency shareholder phone call, refunds Hope's £50 with her consent, and strikes off the business after just seven minutes as the world's richest man on paper.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation is driven by Fosh's signature deadpan wit and high-concept guerrilla comedy, contrasting absurd street-pitching in an unwashed suit with legitimate corporate paperwork. The tone shifts briskly from eccentric, lighthearted bravado to genuine comedic panic once legal warnings about corporate fraud arrive in the mail. Watching the stunt feels like witnessing a cheeky financial prank teetering right on the edge of regulatory trouble before resolving in a frantic, seven-minute race to wind up the enterprise.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) Max Fosh incorporated 'Unlimited Money Limited' at Companies House with 10 billion shares under the pasta manufacturing category, aiming to leverage a corporate valuation technicality. - [04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) By selling a single share for £50 in cash on the streets of London's financial district, the enterprise triggered an implied market capitalization of £500 billion. - [05:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=353s) A formal financial assessment confirmed the £500 billion valuation benchmark but warned that operating with zero revenue or assets risked immediate allegations of corporate fraud. - [07:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=475s) Following an emergency phone consultation and refund with the sole external shareholder, the company was officially struck off, leaving Max Fosh theoretically the world's richest man for exactly seven minutes.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) The experiment relied on the corporate valuation principle that a business's total market cap can theoretically be extrapolated from the sale price of a single share across total issued equity. - [00:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=48s) Registering a business with Companies House allows broad flexibility in classification, leading Max to register an implied £500 billion entity under pasta, noodle, and farinaceous product manufacturing. - [01:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=93s) The UK company registration portal encountered errors when attempting to issue one trillion and one hundred billion shares, establishing a technical threshold at ten billion shares. - [02:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=155s) Pitching equity from a folding table outside Bank station initially met heavy skepticism, as financiers questioned liquidity, security, and cash practicality. - [04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) An investor named Hope purchased a single share for £50 in cash on a whim, formalizing the transaction with a signed UK stock transfer form. - [05:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=353s) A corporate valuation advisory reviewed the executed stock transfer form and zero-earnings profit-and-loss statement, confirming the implied £500 billion market cap. - [07:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=435s) The valuation report explicitly warned that holding a £500 billion market capitalization with zero trading history or assets mimicked fraudulent market manipulation, demanding immediate dissolution. - [07:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=475s) Under UK corporate law, winding up a company requires unanimous shareholder consent, necessitating an emergency phone meeting with Hope to repurchase her equity. - [08:44](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=524s) The total duration of Max Fosh's tenure as an on-paper multi-hundred-billionaire lasted exactly seven minutes between opening the valuation letter and filing the strike-off application.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) The £500 Billion Loophole and Registering the Company

Max Fosh sets out an audacious financial experiment grounded in a technicality of corporate valuation: if an entrepreneur creates a company with ten billion shares and sells just one of those shares for £50, the business receives an implied market valuation of £500 billion. On paper, holding the remaining shares would make Max the wealthiest individual on Earth, easily eclipsing his nearest competitor, Elon Musk. Turning this theoretical loophole into reality begins at the UK’s registrar of businesses, Companies House, where setting up a company simply requires working through an online registration form.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Unlimited Money Limited Corporate Flow accDescr: Chart showing company registration, share sale, valuation, and emergency dissolution.

subgraph Setup ["1. Incorporation & Issuance"] A["Incorporate UML at Companies House"] --> B["Register 10 Billion Shares"] B --> C["SIC: Pasta & Farinaceous Products"] end

subgraph Valuation ["2. Valuation Trigger"] D["Set up stall in Bank district"] --> E["Sell 1 share to Hope for £50"] E --> F["Advisor assesses market cap at £500B"] end

subgraph Dissolution ["3. Fraud Warning & Strike-Off"] G["Valuation warning: Accusation of fraud"] --> H["Emergency call to shareholder Hope"] H --> I["Refund £50 & file strike-off (7 min total)"] end

Setup --> Valuation Valuation --> Dissolution ```

When prompted for an official business name ending in "Limited," Max settles on "Unlimited Money Limited." He then has to specify the nature of the company's business activities. Opting against conventional financial services, he selects the manufacturing category: *"Manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products."* With the pasta-manufacturing premise in place, Max tests the limits of the share capital section. He attempts to issue one trillion shares, but the web form crashes and rejects the input with an error to enter a valid amount. One hundred billion shares fails as well, but inputting ten billion shares is accepted. Although the application estimates a processing window of two working days, the official certificate of incorporation arrives via email almost instantly while Max is downstairs fetching coffee.

- Company Name: Unlimited Money Limited (UML) - Total shares issued: 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) - Registered business classification: Manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous, and farinaceous products - Target share sale: 1 share for £50 to trigger a £500 billion legal valuation

---

[02:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=155s) Suiting Up and Pitching on the Streets of Bank

With Unlimited Money Limited officially incorporated, Max faces the challenge of finding an investor willing to pay £50 in cash for a single share. To look the part of a high-flying chief executive, he rummages through his dirty laundry basket to retrieve his sole suit and pairs it with an uncreased shirt, joking that he is there to sell equity rather than smell good. Arming himself with a folding table draped in what appears to be an ordinary bedsheet, he heads straight into Bank, the heart of London's financial district, convinced it is the prime location to find speculative capital.

On the pavement outside Bank station, Max pitches passing commuters and financiers, inviting them to sit at his makeshift booth. He encounters immediate skepticism and a frosty reception. When explaining to one pedestrian that buying a single share for £50 will value a fledgling entity at £500 billion, the passerby points out that he does not carry £50 in cash and notes that it is hardly a secure investment. Max concedes the risk, comparing the uncertainty to Natalie Imbruglia’s 1990s hit single "Torn," while trying to sell the prestige of the anecdote: “Have I told you the story when I invested in a company worth five hundred billion pounds?” Despite his animated sales pitch, prospective investors repeatedly decline, citing a need to think it over.

---

[04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) Securing an Investor: Hope Steps In

The string of rejections ends when a passerby named Hope approaches the stall with cash in hand, willing to buy into the enterprise. Max immediately ushers her to the booth to complete the transaction. When asked why she is willing to hand over £50 for a single share of an unknown pasta-manufacturing shell company, Hope explains her spontaneous reasoning directly: “Honestly, on a whim, I feel like it's meant to be, I feel like I'll get something from it eventually, not just a good story.”

Max accepts the cash and presents her with an official stock transfer form. Both parties sign the agreement and shake hands to formalize the acquisition, concluding what Max jokes could easily be viewed as the most elaborate £50 street scam ever attempted. With a legally executed share transfer in hand, the next critical step is obtaining a professional assessment to verify that the private transaction formally establishes the company's implied valuation.

- Investor: Hope - Investment amount: £50 in cash - Equity acquired: 1 share of Unlimited Money Limited - Documentation: Formal UK stock transfer form executed on site

---

[05:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=353s) The Official Valuation and the Threat of Fraud

With the deal closed, Max packages the documentation to submit to a professional corporate valuation advisor. The packet includes the signed stock transfer form from Hope and the company’s profit-and-loss statement, which reflects exactly zero pounds in operating earnings. Max drops the envelope into a postbox and waits two weeks for the assessment to be completed.

Dressed once more in a formal shirt, Max opens the evaluation letter on camera. The advisor notes that while corporate valuations typically rely on established metrics such as the times-revenue method or earnings multiples, the data provided establishes a benchmark:

> “Given the range of information provided to us, the market cap of Unlimited Money has been assessed as five hundred billion pounds.”

The breakthrough comes with an immediate, severe legal complication. Because Unlimited Money Limited operates with zero commercial revenue and possesses no underlying assets or trade to justify the astronomical figure, the advisor warns that the arrangement mimics a market-manipulation or fraudulent scheme. The letter continues with a stark directive: “It is for this reason we highly recommend Unlimited Money Limited is dissolved as a matter of urgency.”

- Implied market capitalization assessed: £500,000,000,000 (£500 billion) - Valuation basis: Extrapolation of 1 share sold at £50 across 10,000,000,000 issued shares - Key financial deficit: Zero revenue, zero earnings, and zero assets - Legal advisory verdict: High likelihood of UML facing criminal allegations of fraudulent activity unless immediately struck off

---

[07:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=475s) Emergency Shareholder Meeting and Seven Minutes of Glory

Faced with potential accusations of corporate fraud, Max moves to wind up the business immediately. Under UK corporate regulations, dissolving a company requires formal consent from all shareholders. Because Hope supplied her contact information on the share transfer paperwork, Max emails her and arranges an emergency telephone conference just four minutes later.

On the phone, Max explains the urgency of the situation to Hope, noting that regulatory advisors have instructed him to dissolve the entity without delay. He offers a full reimbursement of her £50 investment in exchange for her explicit consent to liquidate the enterprise. Hope agrees without objection, allowing Max to close the shareholder meeting and file an immediate application with Companies House to strike the company off the register.

Once the strike-off confirmation is processed, Unlimited Money Limited is officially closed down. Looking back at the timeline, Max calculates that only seven minutes elapsed between the moment he read the official valuation letter declaring the company worth £500 billion and the final confirmation dissolving it. Reflecting on his fleeting tenure at the peak of global wealth, Max concludes: “It could be argued that I was the richest man in the world for seven minutes but I have closed the company, it's done.”

## Mentioned Max Fosh, Elon Musk, Hope, Unlimited Money Limited, Companies House, Bank station, Natalie Imbruglia, Torn

## Video description Come at me Elon

https://twitter.com/max_fosh https://www.instagram.com/max.fosh

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w)

中文简报

马克斯·福什解散市值5000亿英镑公司以规避欺诈指控 以50英镑售出一无资产空壳公司的一股股票,在账面上形成了5000亿英镑的隐含市值,但在英国反欺诈法规下,零商业营收迫使其立即清盘。 马克斯·福什利用企业估值漏洞,在面食制造类别下注册了一家发行量为100亿股的英国公司“Unlimited Money Limited”。他在伦敦金融区支起临时推销摊位,以50英镑现金向一位名叫霍普的行人出售了一股,从而在法律上形成了5000亿英镑的隐含市值。尽管专业估值顾问正式确认了该5000亿英镑的市值,但也强烈建议立即解散该公司,原因是其毫无营收且面临迫在眉睫的欺诈指控风险。福什迅速进行了紧急股东电话沟通,征得霍普同意后退还了50英镑,并在仅成为纸面上“世界首富”七分钟后就将公司注销。 马克斯·福什在英国公司注册处将“Unlimited Money Limited”注册在面食制造类别下,发行量为100亿股,旨在利用企业估值上的技术漏洞。 (0:00) 通过在伦敦金融区街头以50英镑现金售出一股,该企业触发了5000亿英镑的隐含市值。 (4:51) 一份正式的财务评估确认了5000亿英镑的估值基准,但警告称在零营收或零资产的情况下运营面临即刻招致企业欺诈指控的风险。 (5:53) 在与唯一的外部股东进行紧急电话协商并完成退款后,该公司被正式注销,使马克斯·福什在理论上只当了整整七分钟的世界首富。 (7:55)

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 该视频由英国知名创作者 Max Fosh 于 2022 年 2 月 13 日发布在 YouTube 平台上。视频简介仅留下了一句充满挑衅趣味的短语“冲我来吧埃隆(Come at me Elon)”,并附上了其个人的社交媒体主页链接。 ## TL;DR Max Fosh 利用英国公司注册处的漏洞,成立了一家名为“无限金钱有限公司(Unlimited Money Limited)”的企业,并设定发行 100 亿股。随后他身穿西装在伦敦金融城摆摊,成功以 50 英镑的价格向一位名叫 Hope 的路人售出 1 股股票,从而在估值逻辑上将公司市值推高至 5000 亿英镑,纸面身家超越埃隆·马斯克。然而专业估值顾问在寄来 5000 亿英镑估值认证的同时,发出警告称因无实际业务该行为极易涉嫌欺诈并建议紧急解散;Max 最终在紧急联系股东退款并注销公司前,足足体验了 7 分钟的“世界首富”头衔。 ## Atmosphere & style 整部视频洋溢着英式冷幽默与荒诞喜剧色彩,充满了 Max Fosh 标志性的自信装腔与自嘲反差。从他穿着脏衣篓里翻出的西装在金融城街头硬核兜售“发财机会”,到迎来第一笔投资时的意外狂喜,叙事节奏轻快且戏剧张力拉满。拆阅估值信件时从登顶首富的虚荣巅峰瞬间跌入面临欺诈指控的慌乱惊吓,让观众在捧腹大笑的同时,切实感受到一种“在违法边缘试探又手忙脚乱善后”的滑稽与惊险。 ## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) Max Fosh 利用英国公司注册规则创办了“无限金钱有限公司”(Unlimited Money Limited),系统接受的最高股份发行上限为 100 亿股,主营业务被幽默地登记为淀粉类制品制造。 - [04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) 通过在伦敦金融城街头以 50 英镑向路人 Hope 成功出售 1 股,Max 在财务逻辑上将整家公司的纸面市值锚定至 5000 亿英镑。 - [06:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=403s) 专业企业估值顾问出具书面认可,确认该公司的官方估值达到 5000 亿英镑,使 Max 在纸面上超越埃隆·马斯克成为世界首富。 - [07:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=425s) 由于完全缺乏实际营收支撑极高市值,估值顾问发出严重的欺诈指控警告,Max 随后在获得股东同意后紧急注销公司,首富体验仅维持了 7 分钟。 ## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) Max 构想了一个利用资本市场单股定价推导总市值的估值漏洞计划,目标市值设定为 5000 亿英镑以超越埃隆·马斯克。 - [01:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=68s) 在英国公司注册处系统测试中,1 万亿和 1000 亿股均告失败,最终系统允许的最大股份注册上限为 100 亿股。 - [00:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=35s) 公司被命名为 Unlimited Money Limited,并根据法规要求填报了冷门的主营业务代码:面条、通心粉及淀粉制品制造。 - [01:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=115s) 注册申请提交后几分钟内即获英国官方批复,使 Unlimited Money Limited 成为合法注册实体。 - [02:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=155s) Max 携带简易摆摊桌与皱西装前往伦敦 Bank 金融中心,直接向路过的金融专业人士推销其商业计划以寻求 50 英镑投资。 - [03:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=200s) 街头推销屡遭拒绝,行人多以缺乏现金或投资风险过大为由离开,突显出该逻辑在现实商业环境中的荒谬性。 - [04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) 名为 Hope 的路人基于一时兴起和对故事趣味性的期待,同意出资 50 英镑现金购买公司 1 股股份。 - [05:31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=331s) 双方签署了正规的股份转让表格(stock transfer form),完成了合法的单股股权交割。 - [06:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=360s) Max 将公司注册凭据、零利润损益表和股权转让协议打包提交给专业企业估值顾问进行官方核验。 - [06:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=403s) 估值顾问应用市销率等评估模型后,出具正式文件确认无限金钱有限公司市值达到 5000 亿英镑。 - [07:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=425s) 估值报告同时发出严重法律警告:在毫无实际运营与收入的情况下形成此等估值,极易被指控涉嫌欺诈罪。 - [07:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=445s) 顾问强烈建议立即解散公司以避免刑事风险,Max 迅速联系唯一外部股东 Hope 并全额退还 50 英镑以取得解散许可。 - [08:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=490s) 从收到估值文件确认首富身份到向官方提交注销申请(strike off),Max 的“世界首富”身份总共仅维持了约 7 分钟。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=0s) 荒诞计划与注册“无限金钱有限公司” Max Fosh 构思了一个异想天开的商业计划:如果他注册一家发行 100 亿股(10 billion shares)的公司,并成功以 50 英镑的价格卖出其中 1 股,那么根据估值逻辑,整家公司的法定市值就将被锚定在 5000 亿英镑(500 billion pounds)。这一数字足以碾压他口中“最接近的竞争对手”埃隆·马斯克(Elon Musk),让他一跃成为世界首富。然而,这个宏大计划一开始就伴随着一个严峻的风险提示——可能涉嫌欺诈活动。 在英国,注册公司可以通过英国公司注册处(Companies House)在线填写表格完成。Max 调侃自己喜欢填表,因为上面的问题大部分他都能回答。在填写公司名称时,由于法规要求公司名称必须以“Limited”结尾,他灵机一动取名为“Unlimited Money Limited”(无限金钱有限公司)。在选择公司主营业务类型时,他原本想找“制造金钱”类的业务,但最终选了一项冷门行业——“制造通心粉、面条、蒸粗麦粉及类似的淀粉制品(farinaceous products)”,他甚至坦言自己根本不知道 farinaceous 是什么意思,但这就是新公司的业务了。 在设定股份数量时,Max 试图测试系统极限。他首先尝试输入 1 万亿股(1 trillion),系统报错提示“请输入有效的股份数量”;接着尝试 1000 亿股(100 billion),依然无法通过;直到输入 100 亿股(10 billion)时,系统终于接受并通过。提交申请后,系统提示需要等待两个工作日,但实际上 Max 只是下楼冲了杯咖啡的功夫,官方证书等所有文件就已经批复送达。至此,Unlimited Money Limited 正式成为一家拥有 100 亿股的合法注册公司,而接下来的难题就是把其中 1 股以 50 英镑卖出去。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 5000亿英镑估值逻辑与注册流程 accDescr: 展示 Max Fosh 如何通过公司注册与单股定价推导出 5000 亿英镑估值 subgraph 注册与发行 A["Companies House 注册公司"] --> B["名称: Unlimited Money Limited"] B --> C["行业: 面条及淀粉制品制造"] C --> D["发行股数: 10,000,000,000 股"] end subgraph 估值计算 D --> E["单股售价: £50"] E --> F["计算市值: 100亿股 × £50 = £5,000亿"] end ``` ### [02:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=155s) 盛装打扮与伦敦金融城的路边摊推销 为了扮演好世界首富并顺利卖出股票,Max 决定盛装打扮。他回到自己的卧室翻找衣物,从多件皱巴巴的衬衫中挑出一件相对平整的,随后直接从脏衣篓里掏出了自己唯一的一套西装裤。Max 自我安慰道:“我们是来卖股票的,不是来比谁闻起来香的(We're here to sell shares, not smell good)。”套上西装时他还哀叹自己体重增加,但依然信心满满地扛着一张摆摊桌和可能是一条床单充当的桌布,直奔伦敦金融中心 Bank 地铁站附近。 在人来人往的金融街头,Max 支起简陋的摊位,开始向过往的银行家、金融从业人员和路人搭讪推销。他不停地招揽路人:“先生,你想获得投资机会吗?”、“女士,你的包里还有空间放投资机会吗?”然而周围的反应极其冷淡,路人纷纷快步走过或投来异样的目光。为了完成目标,Max 决定逐一详细路演,向停下脚步的人解释自己的商业逻辑:他发行了 100 亿股,现在只要花 50 英镑买 1 股,整家公司的估值就会直接达到 5000 亿英镑。 路人们对此反应不一,有人直接指出自己身上没有 50 镑现金(Max 则指着街角的取款机示意可以去取),也有人敏锐地评价“从你的角度看这在财务上并不是很安全的投资”、“风险很大”。Max 则幽默地用 1990 年代流行歌手 Natalie Imbruglia 的名曲《Torn》来形容这种纠结感,并向对方兜售情绪价值:“试想一下,先生,当你坐在餐桌旁时,你可以说:‘我有没有跟你讲过我投资了一家价值 5000 亿英镑的公司的事?’”即便如此,接二连三的路人依然给出了“我要考虑一下”、“这次先不用了”的拒绝答复。 ### [04:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=291s) 迎来首位投资人与提交正式估值审查 就在屡遭拒绝、看似陷入僵局时,一位名为 Hope 的女性路人走了过来。她不仅停下脚步,还明确表示自己带了现金愿意投资。Max 喜出望外,连忙邀请她坐进摊位的“洽谈室”。当被问到为什么愿意投资这家公司时,Hope 直率地表达了自己的想法:“老实说,一时兴起,我觉得这是命中注定的,我觉得我最终会从中得到一些东西,而不仅仅是一个好故事(Honestly, on a whim, I feel like it's meant to be, I feel like I'll get something from it eventually, not just a good story)。” Max 当场收下了 Hope 支付的 50 英镑现金,并开玩笑说如果这是个骗局,那将是一场极其繁琐却只骗 50 镑的荒谬骗局。双方正式签署了股份转让表(stock transfer form)并握手致意,完成了一股的股权转让交易。交易达成后,Max 难掩兴奋,接下来最关键的一步是将所有交易凭证和公司账目寄给专业的企业估值顾问(valuation advisor),由专业人士出具官方评估,以判定该公司的市值是否在法律和财务层面上达到 5000 亿英镑。 - **投资人**:Hope - **投资金额**:现金 50 英镑 - **购得股份**:1 股 - **利润与亏损记录**:0(无任何实际运营收支) - **转交材料**:包含双方签署的股权转让表、公司注册证明及零利润账目 ### [06:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w&t=403s) 5000亿英镑估值出炉、涉嫌欺诈警告与7分钟首富 两周之后,估值顾问的正式信件寄达。Max 特意换上衬衫,在镜头前当场拆阅报告。信中列举了包括市销率法(times revenue method)等多种估值模型,并给出了最终结论:“根据提供给我们的各项信息,无限金钱有限公司(Unlimited Money Limited)的市场价值被评估为 5000 亿英镑(Given the range of information provided to us, the market cap of Unlimited Money Has been assessed as five hundred billion pounds)。”这意味着 Max 凭借持有绝大多数股份,在纸面财富上正式登顶世界首富。 然而信件后半部分的警告瞬间打破了喜悦:由于该公司没有任何实际营收支撑该估值,极有可能涉嫌违法。顾问在信中严厉指出:“由于缺乏实际业务营收,UML 公司极有可能被指控涉嫌欺诈活动。正因如此,我们强烈建议无限金钱有限公司作为紧急事项立即解散(Due to lack of revenue activity there is a highly likelihood of UML being accused of fraudulent activity. It is for this reason we highly recommend Unlimited Money Limited is dissolved as a matter of urgency)。” 面临可能的刑事指控,Max 慌忙启动公司解散程序。根据规定,解散公司必须征得全体股东同意。Max 立即通过之前留下的联络信息给唯一外部股东 Hope 发送邮件,并在四分钟内与她通上了电话。他在电话中坦白收到紧急注销指示,并提出全额退还 50 英镑投资款以换取同意解散,Hope 爽快答应。Max 随即在系统内完成股份退还并提交了注销申请(strike off)。从收到估值文件确认成为世界首富,到彻底注销公司消除法律风险,整个过程仅持续了约 7 分钟。Max 在片尾深吸一口气松了一口气,喃喃自语道自己没做坏事只是在拍搞笑视频,但他确实当了 7 分钟的全球首富,并打算把那张公司注册证书裱起来留作纪念。 ## Mentioned Max Fosh, Elon Musk, Hope, Unlimited Money Limited, Companies House, Bank 地铁站, Natalie Imbruglia, 《Torn》 ## Video description Come at me Elon https://twitter.com/max_fosh https://www.instagram.com/max.fosh [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfJRON3b-w)

Original transcript

[0:00] [Voice-over] If I created and registered a company with ten billion shares... [0:03] What about, "Unlimited Money Limited"? [0:05] ...and then sold one of those shares for 50 pounds... [0:08] Sir, would you like an investment opportunity? [0:09] That would legally value my company [0:11] It's come through, the certificate, everything. [0:14] At 500 billion pounds. [0:16] Technically would that company be worth 500 billion pounds? [0:21] Thus making me the richest man in the world, [0:23] absolutely decimating my nearest rival, [0:26] Elon Musk. [0:27] Although, [0:29] there was a problem. [0:30] "Could be accused of fraudulent activity"... [0:32] that does not sound good. [0:35] Riiight, ​ [0:36] Riiight, luckily in the UK it's quite easy to set up a [0:38] company at something called Companies House, [0:40] and you essentially just do a big old form. [0:42] I like forms because I know all the answers to the questions mainly [0:46] Right, ​ [0:46] Right, What is your full name. [0:48] *typing* [0:48] Max Fosh. [0:50] I know that one. [0:51] The fun one: [0:52] Company name. [0:53] I can see here that has to end with limited... [0:57] *wheezy laugh* What about: [0:59] What about Un... [1:01] Unlimited Money Limited? [1:03] *laughs* [1:06] I really like that! [1:08] Welcome! To the new company! [1:10] Unlimited Money Limited! [1:12] What will the company be doing: [1:14] *typing* [1:17] Oh. [1:17] We make- we make- we're making money so we're looking for manufacturing... [1:21] Ooh, ok, here we go: [1:22] Could do this: [1:23] Manufacture of macaroni, noodles couscous and similar... [1:27] farinaceous products. [1:29] I don't know what farinaceous means but... [1:32] ...that's what the company does! [1:33] [VO] Now that I was a big block of Parmesan in the pasta world, [1:37] It was time to decide how many shares I was going to have. [1:40] How many shares can you issue [1:42] in a company. Is there a limit? [1:44] Let's try... [1:45] A trillion shares. [1:46] One two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve... [1:50] Nope. [1:51] Broken it! [1:52] "Enter a valid number of shares"! [1:54] *laughs* [1:55] It's like, [1:56] "Come on Max, don't be silly." [1:57] One hundred billion? [1:58] Nope, that didn't work either. [2:00] Right, ​ [2:00] Right, ok, [2:01] ten billion. [2:02] Let's try that... [2:03] ha-HA! [2:03] Okay right. [2:04] So, ten billion worked. [2:07] [triumphantly] Application submitted! [2:10] It said it'll take two working days. [2:12] Ok, we're gonna wait two working days. [2:15] [VO] That wasn't exactly true though. [2:16] The speeed, I tell you [2:18] *laughing* I've literally just gone downstairs to get coffee, [2:21] and, [2:22] it's come through. [2:24] The certificate, everything - [2:26] Unlimited Money Limited [2:28] is now officially a company. [2:30] I now need to do the difficult thing of selling a share [2:33] for 50 pounds. [2:35] Right. [2:36] I think I'd better return to suit up. [2:38] You haven't been in here before, this is where... [2:40] ...this is where the magic happens. [2:42] I've got so many packs of cards under that duvet. [2:45] That shirt's creased, [2:46] that shirt's creased, [2:47] that shirt's creased, [2:48] This shirt isn't creased! [2:50] Gotta look my best. [2:53] [VO] Things weren't looking good for my upcoming stint as the world's richest man. [2:57] Because I was fishing the one suit I owned [3:00] out of my laundry basket. [3:01] Yes my trousers are in my laundry basket, [3:03] might be a bit dirty, but that doesn't matter! [3:05] We're here to sell shares, ​ [3:07] We're here to sell shares, not smell good. [3:09] [in closet] ohh noo, I've put on too much weight... [3:13] [VO] Looking the part, feeling confident, [3:14] and ready to take my place as the world's richest man, [3:17] This may or may not be my bedsheet. [3:18] I headed into the financial district. [3:21] Who's not buying stocks and shares from this table! [3:26] If there's one place where I'm going to get people to invest in my company, [3:29] It's Bank. [3:30] *ka-ching* [3:31] Hello Sir, would you like an investment opportunity? [3:33] Can- can I chat to you guys for five minutes about investing [voice cracks]? [3:35] Madam, any space for investment opportunities in that bag? [3:38] Me, ​ [3:38] Me, you, ​ [3:39] Me, you, Let's talk about investing. [3:40] Hi Sir, investment opportunity? [3:42] No, o-okay. [3:43] [VO] It's safe to say the reception was slightly frosty but I wasn't leaving my stall [3:47] until I'd sold one share. [3:50] Hiya guys! [3:51] So I had to start pitching to everyone. [3:53] Hello! [3:54] Nice to meet you. [3:55] I've set up a company, I've issued ten billion shares in that company. [3:59] Yeah, a fair few [4:00] I'm trying to sell one share. [4:02] For fifty pounds, thus valuing the company... [4:06] You haven't heard the rest of the story! [4:07] Thus valuing the company at 500 billion pounds. [4:11] One share, 50 pounds... [4:12] and you've set up this new company. [4:14] Yes I have. [4:15] I don't even have 50 quid cash on me right now... *laughs* [4:17] There's a cashpoint just down there. *laughs* [4:18] It's not financially a very safe investment. [4:21] It's risky. It's risky. [4:22] From your side of things but.. [4:26] Bit like Natalie Imbruglia in the 1990's. [4:28] ♫ Torn ♫ [4:29] Just think of this Sir, you're sat around the dinner table, [4:31] you say, [4:32] "Have I told you the story when I invested in a company [4:34] worth five hundred billion pounds?" [4:37] [VO] Despite my energetic pitch, the "No"s just kept on coming. [4:41] I'm gonna have to pass... [4:42] Say no on this occasion? [4:44] ...Probably not okay. [4:46] I need some time to think about it. [4:48] Uhm, not particularly, no. [4:49] I'm gonna think about it, and we'll come back... [4:51] [VO] But little did I know... [4:53] Hope was just around the corner. [4:55] Hope. [4:57] Have we got money? I've got money for you. [4:59] *laughs* You are willing to invest! Yes! [5:01] You are- a- [5:02] Congrat- please take a seat into the booth. [5:04] Did you just get that out? Yes. It's real! [5:06] *laughs* [5:08] Hope, ​ [5:08] Hope, Quickly, [5:09] Wh- why would you like to invest in this company? [5:12] Honestly, on a whim, [5:14] I feel like it's meant to be, [5:15] I feel like I'll get something from it eventually, [5:18] not just a good story. Sure. [5:19] Thank you. [5:20] I'll take the money now [5:21] thank you very much. [5:25] I-I mean, [5:26] I could, this would be a very elaborate way of [5:28] of scamming someone out of 50 pounds. [5:30] Hope, all signed. [5:32] Do we need to shake on it? That is one [5:34] stock transfer from complete. [5:36] Pleasure doing business with you. Pleasure doing business with you! [5:38] *Laughing* I can't believe that worked! [5:40] I did just sell a share for 50 pounds. [5:42] So. [5:43] All I need to do now is send all this paperwork to... [5:47] an evaluation adviser, who will then be able to tell me [5:49] whether the company is worth £500 billion or not. [5:51] So now we wait. [5:53] [VO] With Hope on board as an investor in the documents collated [5:56] it was time to send them off. [5:58] Today's a big day. [6:00] I'm sending off all the documents that I need, [6:03] to the valuation advisor. [6:06] So it's got my stock transfer form from Hope, [6:09] All the requisite kind of like, [6:11] *laughs* profit loss of which there's zero. [6:14] Sending it off to them today, [6:15] in the post, and then [6:16] I don't know how long it's gonna take for us to get a response back, but [6:20] Big day! [6:20] Biiig day for Unlimited Money Limited. [6:23] [VO] These documents were to decide my fate [6:25] I'd done all sorts to get them. [6:27] Rummaging in my dirty laundry, [6:29] and flirting with the financiers of London. [6:32] These were the documents [6:33] that would decide if I was the richest man... [6:35] Squeeze in there! [6:36] In the world. [6:38] Success. [6:39] And I got my answer [6:40] two weeks later. [6:43] Big day. [6:45] Biiig day. It's why I'm wearing a shirt. [6:47] We're seeing this together. [6:48] In here will be telling me how much I'm worth as an individual. [6:52] So. [6:53] Without further ado [6:59] Oh, ok. [7:00] "Dear Mr Max Fosh, [7:01] The numerous methods evaluation including, but not limited to, the times revenue method [7:05] earnings multiplied by..." blahh... [7:07] Things I don't understand! [7:08] "Given the range of information provided to us, [7:11] the market cap of Unlimited Money [7:14] Has been assessed as [7:16] five [7:17] five hundred [7:17] five hundred billion pounds." [7:20] [VO] I had done it! [7:21] I was the richest man [7:23] in the world. [7:24] But. [7:25] Oh. [7:26] Oh. [7:27] Because the company had no revenue and therefore nothing to back up this valuation, [7:32] I was technically being accused of fraud? [7:35] "Due to lack of revenue activity there is a highly likelihood of UML being [7:39] accused of fraudulent activity. [7:41] It is for this reason we highly recommend [7:43] Unlimited Money Limited [7:45] is dissolved as a matter of urgency." [7:47] Right, um... [7:48] Okay. [7:50] I need to shut this down. [7:52] Very quickly. [7:53] How do you close a company? [7:55] [VO] Well. [7:56] You need the permission of the shareholders - [7:58] Hope. [7:59] and luckily she'd filled in some contact details [8:01] so I sent off a very swift email [8:03] and four minutes later [8:05] we were on the phone. [8:06] I think I've made a terrible decision. *Phone rings* [8:10] Hi Hope. Oh hi! [8:11] How you doing. [8:13] We have been instructed that- it's a matter of urgency that I dissolve the company. [8:17] However I need to get all shareholders to agree on the dissolving of the company. [8:21] If I reimburse you your investment, the 50 pounds, [8:24] are you happy for the company to be dissolved? [8:27] I- I'm happy with that. [8:28] Okay thank you thank you very much. [8:29] *laughs* [8:31] Thank you so much. [8:32] Shareholder meeting over, [8:34] Thank you so much. [8:35] Okay [8:36] [VO] And so with that and a few other forms, [8:38] the company... [8:39] ...was dissolved. [8:40] Application to strike off the company has been accepted. [8:42] *breathes deeply* Okay, [8:44] relax. [8:45] Unlimited Money Limited, [8:47] is no longer active. [8:49] *sigh* Okay. [8:50] That took me... [8:51] seven minutes. [8:53] It could be argued that I was the richest man in the world for seven minutes [8:56] but I have closed the company, it's done. [8:59] [mumbling] I haven't done anything wrong... [9:00] I'm just making silly videos. [9:03] [whispering] But I was very rich. [9:06] I might frame this though. [9:08] The certificate. [9:09] [Captions by Sorcerertech]