Winklevoss twins start spending their Facebook money
The Winklevoss twins are back in the public eye, and we say, welcome back boys!
This week brothers Cameron and Tyler announced a $1-million investment in SumZero -- a website that lets investors share information and research, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Winklevosses first became famous in 2010 for their depiction in the film “The Social Network.†But even if the movie had never happened, the broad chested, hunky twins were ripe for prime-time.
In 2005 the brothers launched a court battle against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, claiming that Zuckerberg stole the idea of Facebook from them after they hired him to build a social network called ConnectU in 2004.
In 2008 they reached a settlement with Facebook for a reported $65 million in cash and stock. Then they went back to court to argue that they should have received more money.
The twins finally abandoned their legal battle with Facebook at the end of 2011.
During the same period, the six-foot-five-inch brothers were also training to compete in rowing at the Olympics. They finished sixth in the coxed pair event in Beijing in 2008. Although they had been training in San Diego for the London Olympics, they decided to abandon that plan in December.
With their Facebook litigation and Olympic dreams behind them, the brothers seem ready to start a new chapter of their lives. In February they formed Winklevoss Capital to start investing their personal wealth, the Journal reported.
The $1-million investment in SumZero isn’t just a “here’s the money and good luck to you†investment situation. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the brothers plan to “roll up their sleeves†and really get involved with the site, which was founded by their business partner and fellow Harvard Alum Divya Narendra.
They even plan to move SumZero’s offices into their own offices near Madison Square Park when they open in October.
ALSO:
Winklevoss twins have Olympic ambitions
Judge dismisses Winklevoss case against Facebook
Winklevoss twins press Facebook case in Boston federal court after dropping Supreme Court appeal
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
