Скачать или смотреть FTC Slams Advocare with a $150 Million Settlement

We've all been there: a casual coffee invitation turns into a "business opportunity." Or maybe you've found yourself trapped in a hotel conference room, watching a slick presentation promising financial freedom and luxury cars. If this sounds familiar, you've probably brushed up against the world of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). For years, AdvoCare perfected this playbook. With celebrity endorsements and $400 million in annual revenue, they sold energy drinks and supplements through an ever-expanding network of distributors. But beneath the glossy surface, a classic pyramid scheme was taking shape—a handful at the top got rich while 93% of distributors earned less than $500 a year.

In this episode of Legally Curious, Harvard-trained trial lawyer Quinn Mayberry and legal translator Alex Lobert dissect the landmark case FTC v. AdvoCare International. They explore where the line between legitimate business and pyramid scheme actually lies, why the FTC finally stepped in, and what happened to the thousands left holding worthless inventory. Plus, Alex shares a hilarious story of an MLM pitch he mistook for a date.

What You'll Learn:
The real difference between legitimate franchises like McDonald's and pyramid schemes. You'll also learn how AdvoCare pulled the wool over so many investors' eye leaving them with piles of unsold inventory. And the shocking Supreme Court decision that changed the FTC's power to recover money for MLM victims.

Ideas Worth Sharing:
“The CEO is quoted... 'If you package dirt right... the distributors will buy it.'” - Quinn Mayberry
“It’s Pokemon evolution, but you just get poorer as you evolve.” - Alex Lobert
“Legally, a pyramid scheme is defined as any program where participants pay money primarily to recruit others... rather than sell product.” - Quinn Mayberry