The Misspelled Financial Advice That Predicted GameStop

Stonks features “Meme Man” (a featureless 3D head) standing in front of a rising stock chart, labeled “STONKS” (intentional misspelling of “stocks”). Created in 2017 but exploding 2019-2021, the meme satirized financial illiteracy, market irrationality, and the mindset of amateur investors making questionable decisions.

Origins: Meme Man & Surreal Memes (2017)

“Meme Man” originated in the surreal meme community—absurdist humor featuring the bald, orange-suited figure and intentionally misspelled words (healfh, enjiner, teknoloje). The original “Stonks” image appeared June 5, 2017, posted by user “Special Meme Fresh” on Facebook.

The format: Meme Man + ascending arrow graph + “STONKS” = bad financial decisions presented as success. The misspelling and crude stock chart emphasized amateur understanding of finance.

Mainstream Explosion (2019-2021)

Stonks remained niche until 2019, when it exploded on Reddit r/MemeEconomy and r/dankmemes as commentary on:

• Personal finance mistakes presented as wins
• Market bubbles and irrational exuberance
• Cryptocurrency gambling disguised as investment
• Reckless spending framed as financial planning

The opposite, “NOT STONKS” (falling graph), indicated losses, failure, or market crashes.

GameStop & WSB Prophecy (2021)

The meme achieved perfect cultural resonance during the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze. r/WallStreetBets investors piled into GME stock, driving it from $20 to $483, costing hedge funds billions. The movement was driven by memes, “diamond hands,” and “to the moon” rhetoric—pure stonks energy.

Stonks became the unofficial symbol of retail investor rebellion against Wall Street. The intentional financial illiteracy of the meme matched the “we’re all idiots but we’ll win anyway” energy of WSB culture.

Legacy

Post-GME, stonks remained relevant as markets stayed volatile:

• Crypto crashes: “NOT STONKS”
• Meme stock rebounds: “STONKS”
• Inflation, recession fears: “DEFINITELY NOT STONKS”

The meme became financial commentary shorthand—everyone understood “stonks” meant irrational market behavior, whether celebrating or mocking it.

Sources:

• Know Your Meme: Stonks comprehensive history
• Reddit r/MemeEconomy and r/wallstreetbets archives
• Financial Times: “How ‘stonks’ became the language of r/WallStreetBets” (2021)