Life can fall apart slowly over time. A few bad habits, even more bad decisions. Missed opportunities. Maybe the wrong crowd, coupled with some questionable relationships...
But other times, it only takes a moment for someone to completely wreck their life. Perhaps it was a poorly-timed comment, a "just-this-one-time" mentality, or even being caught unexpectedly on a Coldplay kiss cam. Whatever the reason, many people have managed to derail their lives at a speed, which is quite astounding.
Someone recently asked, "Who ruined their life the fastest?" and the replies sped in faster than the resignation of Astronomer's CEO Andy Byron. Thousands of people shared stories about years of stability unraveled in an instant.
From silly decisions that led to fatal crashes, acts of self-sabotage that had the worst consequences, and even dumb comments that sent careers spiraling out of control... Bored Panda has put together a list of the most sobering responses for you to scroll through while you think about your own life choices. Many might make you step with caution to avoid doing anything that could alter your path forever.
#1
Not the fastest, but you have to credit Elon Musk for the sheer scale of his downfall.
He went from Silicon Valley’s darling genius that was going to save the world, to detestable technofa**st and one of the greatest villains of this generation.
He is now the poster child of the ultra wealthy using their money to make our lives worse.
He went from Silicon Valley’s darling genius that was going to save the world, to detestable technofa**st and one of the greatest villains of this generation.
He is now the poster child of the ultra wealthy using their money to make our lives worse.
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148points
#2
That O’Brien ceo guy. Coldplay kisscam simultaneously brought him into fame and ruined his life.
140points
#4
My son. Decided to hang out of a window of a Jeep while the driver was doing donuts in the sand. The car rolled, he was k**led, no one else was even hurt cause they were all wearing seatbelts. One person in the car was going to do it, too, but Sage said "no, it's too dangerous." The irony of the stupid little fucker's comment is not lost on me. I miss him so much.
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127points
#5
I ruined my.own life the fastest. I went to a doctors appointment for chronic pain, was prescribed opiates in about 5 minutes. That's all it took to utterly ruin the great life I had and alter it.forever
Thankfully, I'm coming back strong now.
Thankfully, I'm coming back strong now.
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126points
#6
Will Smith was 45 minutes away from accepting an Oscar before ruining his career and image.
111points
#7
The pilot that allowed his children to play around with the plane, it crashed in just 3 min k*****g all 75 on board,
Aeroflot flight 593.
Aeroflot flight 593.
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99points
#8
Justine Sacco's tweet "Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!" ruined her life so fast, she was the last person to know.
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95points
#9
That guy who moved his family to Russia from the US because of radicalization and enlisted in the fight against Ukraine.
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93points
#10
Mike Lindell? Founder of mypillow who at worst was known for being a passionate but weird founder. His product was ok. His company seemed to be doing well.
He then endorses trump and triples down. People went from having no opinions on him to hating him. His company is failing.and it seems like maga support isn't enough
He then endorses trump and triples down. People went from having no opinions on him to hating him. His company is failing.and it seems like maga support isn't enough
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91points
#11
Boban Jankovic, professional basketball player, paralysed himself by banging his head against the hoop support in a fit of rage.
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88points
#12
My older brother had a pretty epic collapse. He was waiting tables at one of the best restaurants in our city and was promoted to bartender and was being fast tracked to management. I know waiting tables and bartending doesn't sound like a big deal, but he was making around $100k a year and only working about 30-35 hours a week. He bought a house, a new car, and had a dog. Then he got into d***s.
One week everything is great. The next week his roommate moves out abruptly. I'm guessing he had been spiraling without the family knowing, but she saw it all coming. She leaves abruptly, the car gets repossessed, and the bank seizes the house. He moved in with my dad, but after 2-3 days my dad puts him in the VA hospital. After a few days there he bounces out and declares himself a new man. Moved back in with my dad. After a couple of days there, he's back at the VA, then out to basically a homeless shelter. This is all within like a 2-3 week span. That was 15 years ago. He's been bouncing in and out of shelters in Baltimore and Boston since.
One week everything is great. The next week his roommate moves out abruptly. I'm guessing he had been spiraling without the family knowing, but she saw it all coming. She leaves abruptly, the car gets repossessed, and the bank seizes the house. He moved in with my dad, but after 2-3 days my dad puts him in the VA hospital. After a few days there he bounces out and declares himself a new man. Moved back in with my dad. After a couple of days there, he's back at the VA, then out to basically a homeless shelter. This is all within like a 2-3 week span. That was 15 years ago. He's been bouncing in and out of shelters in Baltimore and Boston since.
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87points
#14
Greg Wallace
He presented MasterChef in the UK. Notice the past tense.
It came out that he said a few gross things to female contestants - including on the celebrity version.
Nothing actually horribly offensive, but definitely 'pervy uncle' territory.
But instead of apologising or even denying and playing down, he doubled down and having the gall to blame "women of a certain age" for complaining.
He presented MasterChef in the UK. Notice the past tense.
It came out that he said a few gross things to female contestants - including on the celebrity version.
Nothing actually horribly offensive, but definitely 'pervy uncle' territory.
But instead of apologising or even denying and playing down, he doubled down and having the gall to blame "women of a certain age" for complaining.
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80points
#15
Matt Lauer. Once was the face of NBC and the Olympics. Has a torrid affair and SA charges at work. Gone forever in a flash.
74points
#16
Adam Osbourne, founder of Osborne Computers which made the first successful portable computer, made announcements about new computers that were still in the prototype stage. So people stopped buying their existing product, Osborne Computing failed by 1985, and they became a footnote in computer history.
But they did name The Osborne Effect after this blunder.
But they did name The Osborne Effect after this blunder.
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74points
#17
Anyone who fractured their neck, for instance by diving into shallow water.
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70points
#18
A friend of mine decided that she was polyamorous. Her husband was supportive and she starting dating a married guy in another state, literally driving hours back and forth every other weekend to see him.
Out of the blue, after a few months of this, she says that she doesn't feel attracted to her husband anymore and might want a divorce. He is blindsided and willing to work on the relationship (he did nothing wrong and had been nothing but supportive of her), and her friends all beg her to try counseling before going nuclear for no reason. She ignores this and divorces him, ruining both her and her husband's life out of nowhere. She moves to the other state with the other guy and his wife, where she loses contact with her friends and family and basically becomes a mistress to him and watches the couple's baby for free.
The poor husband was devastated. We're still friends with him and he's remarrying to a lovely woman, but I still mourn the loss of my friend who just fucked up her entire life to go be miserable.
Out of the blue, after a few months of this, she says that she doesn't feel attracted to her husband anymore and might want a divorce. He is blindsided and willing to work on the relationship (he did nothing wrong and had been nothing but supportive of her), and her friends all beg her to try counseling before going nuclear for no reason. She ignores this and divorces him, ruining both her and her husband's life out of nowhere. She moves to the other state with the other guy and his wife, where she loses contact with her friends and family and basically becomes a mistress to him and watches the couple's baby for free.
The poor husband was devastated. We're still friends with him and he's remarrying to a lovely woman, but I still mourn the loss of my friend who just fucked up her entire life to go be miserable.
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70points
#19
OJ Simpson?
Dude was IT as an NFL player. Had a successful career as an actor in some way (Naked Gun, tv Ads etc….). Money never would’ve been a problem. Dude had a gravy train life set up for him and he fumbled it all.
Dude was IT as an NFL player. Had a successful career as an actor in some way (Naked Gun, tv Ads etc….). Money never would’ve been a problem. Dude had a gravy train life set up for him and he fumbled it all.
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69points
#20
Definitely my neighbor drove drunk with his whole family in the car and he crashed. He became paralyzed from the waist down his whole family was fine and they left him completey. F**k you niri.
68points