The Hustle's Original Stories

The story of America’s favorite holiday plant is rife with international politics, spoiled trade secrets, and a toppled monopoly.

A popular phrase among startup founders raises issues of social justice.

Vinyl has reclaimed its throne as the most-popular physical music format. But can the industry meet the demand?

How the pandemic has made Broadway’s risky business even riskier.

In the past few years, this little car part has sparked a massive crime wave. It has a lot to do with the booming market for precious metals.

Forget the 4-day workweek. The better idea may be to focus on results.

How lucrative is the pumpkin business? We talked to farmers, patch operators, and industry experts to find out.

Adult creators are minting money on OnlyFans — and so are the marketing specialists who help them gain traction.

An illustrated explainer on the decline of business travel — and how it could wreak havoc on your cheap economy tickets.

More than 70k people get hitched every year at Sin City’s dozens of chapels. How’d Vegas weddings become a $2B business?

Across the country, school districts are struggling to fill transportation jobs. The shortage helps explain systemic problems in the labor market.

A college professor invented a cutting-edge sports drink. Then, things got complicated.

Cubby Broccoli managed to secure a cut of the Bond rights in 1961. Since then, his family has made hundreds of millions from the franchise.

Why a tiny mushroom-shaped dome in the California redwoods outperforms millions of other Airbnb listings.

In 1996, Pepsi ran a promotion that jokingly suggested entrants could win a military aircraft. One man took it very seriously.

Satellites are set to grow by 1,000%+ in the next decade. They might help us predict pandemics and save the planet.

Wage theft is one of the most prevalent crimes in the United States, affecting millions of low-wage workers. Yet, it goes largely unreported.

A visual explainer of how secondhand vehicles became the latest victim of supply chain woes.

For $10, you can claim a royal title for yourself or your friends. But most of the time, they’re not what they seem.

A visual explainer of the numbers behind America’s ubiquitous bargain-basement chains.

A growing number of companies are offering design tweaks for old Ikea furniture — and business is booming.

An illustrated explainer of the factors driving up the market.

Cryptocurrency investors are beginning to think about the afterlife of their digital assets — and a burgeoning industry awaits them.

How an unassuming young supertaster nearly pulled off the biggest wine fraud in US history.

Today’s films are brimming with products from big-name brands. How exactly do these partnerships work?

The famed TV artist was one of history’s most prolific painters. But you’re not likely to find his work on the open market.

Bette Nesmith Graham invented one of the most popular office supplies of the 20th century. Today, she’s largely been forgotten.

In the 1990s, a group of elderly women from Beardstown, Illinois gained national fame for their stock returns. But there was a catch.

Nearly 1.5m companies are incorporated in Delaware. How did this tiny state become a mecca for corporate activity?

How an Australian college student turned ~$4k into a fortune by speculating on the blockchain boom.