GameStop (GME), a struggling brick-and-mortar video game retailer, was heavily shorted by hedge funds (short interest >140% of float), betting on bankruptcy. • Spark: In late 2020/early 2021, Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets (WSB) community, led by user DeepFuckingValue (Roaring Kitty/Keith Gill), identified the massive short squeeze potential and began buying shares and call options. • Price Surge: From ~$17 (Dec 2020) to a peak of $483 pre-split (~$120 adjusted) on Jan 28, 2021—a 2,800% increase in w