Martin Shkreli has made his re-emergence in the financial world, once again stirring the pot with his controversial actions. Gaining notoriety as the “pharma bro,” Shkreli first came into the public eye by infamously raising the price of an AIDS drug by 5,000% overnight. His subsequent conviction for securities fraud further cemented his place in infamy. Now, in 2025, he has turned his attention to Opendoor, a stock that has captured the attention of retail traders this summer.
Opendoor’s stock has surged dramatically since hedge fund founder Eric Jackson made a highly publicized bullish call in July, predicting the stock would reach $82 per share. This momentum has led to an incredible increase of about 1,500% in Opendoor’s stock price, captivating retail investors who favored the stock amidst the summer’s trading frenzy.
Shkreli recently took a position against the stock, shorting Opendoor at $9.36. This marks his first trade in the company, and he appears to be conducting diligent research to support his bearish stance. He has announced plans to engage with former employees, customers, and competitors, even offering to pay them for their insights. Shkreli has already spoken with 20 experts about the company and on September 8, described Opendoor as an “obvious short play.”
Eric Jackson remains unshaken by Shkreli’s actions, stating that he does not believe Shkreli warrants a response. In contrast, the online retail investor community has taken a more vocal stance against Shkreli’s return to the trading scene. Discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal that some retail traders feel inspired to rally against Shkreli’s influence, reminiscing about the GameStop short squeeze in 2021, which was propelled by social media momentum. One Reddit user even called for a new figure akin to Keith Gill to emerge, a nod to the influencer’s role in that historic trading event.
The fervor among retail investors appears to be paying off, as despite some pre-market dips, Opendoor’s stock was reported to be up by as much as 20% in Wednesday’s trading session. The enthusiasm from retail traders, who embody the “diamond hands” mentality—refusing to sell despite market pressures—seems to be fortifying the stock against the bearish signals set forth by Shkreli.
As the trading drama unfolds, the battle between traditional market experts and enthusiastic retail investors highlights the evolving landscape of stock trading in the digital age, where a single personality can ignite widespread trading action.
