The meteoric rise of the meme token Shiba Inu in 2021 upended the lives of many regular investors who got in early enough. However, few likely had their financial futures transformed as dramatically as one unnamed American truck driver.
After investing just $650 into the then-obscure SHIB token in 2020, he found himself with $1.7 million to his name barely a year later.
In a tweet last May, the driver’s employer shared details on the jaw-dropping windfall. Apparently, the trucker decided to take a chance on the extremely affordable SHIB in August 2020, when prices hovered around $0.00000000051 per token. His $650 bought the equivalent of trillions of SHIB coins.
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The employer tweeted, “One of my drivers quit because he made $1.7M in crypto on a $670 investment. Good guy, has kids. Doesn’t matter, that’ll still infuriate the bankers and lawyers slaving away for $500k a year.”
$650 Shiba Inu investment turns to $1.7 million
At first, it seemed the driver might have flushed his money down the drain. However, by May 2021, bear market obscurity had given way to meme token mania. As crypto speculation went mainstream, SHIB’s value suddenly vaulted an astonishing 45 million percent in roughly nine months. The driver woke up to over $1.7 million worth of Shiba Inu in his account.
Rather than continuing his truck route, the newly minted crypto millionaire promptly handed in his resignation. His kids’ college funds were assuredly set, and early retirement was an option overnight.
Also read: Shiba Inu: What Happens If 90% of SHIB Tokens Are Burned?
Unfortunately for current SHIB investors, the window for similar massive gains has likely closed. Prices retreated swiftly from their peak around $0.00001021 and now hover 85% lower. While another parabolic rally can never be ruled out in crypto’s volatility, SHIB making new millionaires appears far less probable today.
Still, the trucker’s story epitomizes the disruptive wealth creation enabled by a breakout crypto asset. Few would have believed it if someone told the driver in 2020 that a $650 bet on an unknown meme token could land a 7-figure payday. However, life-changing crypto windfalls do happen, with this one trucker now enjoying his SHIB spoils far from the driver’s seat.