Fact check: A Reddit trader transformed $10,000 into $40 million.

Verdict: misleading — Trust Score 45/100

The post claims a Reddit trader turned $10,000 into $40 million by investing in Moderna call options, citing a 200% stock increase. While Moderna's stock did surge significantly in August 2026 due to positive cancer vaccine trial results, the specific financial gain of $40 million from $10,000 through call options is not verifiable and appears to be an exaggerated or unproven claim. The post also presents conflicting information regarding the percentage increase of Moderna stock, with one slide stating 200% and another showing 126.94%. The comparison to GameStop and AMC is a sensationalist claim.

misleading verification card — Trust Score 45/100
Platform
instagram
Source author
degenriches — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DcWj9Fymj-I/?igsi=NHo4Z2ZiZnpqa2Jx
Verified on
August 25, 2026
Verification ID
TVHl6F5u-xHuTRwcbLaa_Q

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @degenriches --- Caption/Description --- A Reddit trader turned $10,000 into $40 million by loading up on Moderna call options ahead of a 200% run in the stock. The trade is already being called one of the biggest retail wins of the year, right up there with the legendary GameStop and AMC plays. It’s the kind of story that reminds everyone why options trading pulls people in, for better or worse. --- Carousel/Slides (2 items) --- Slide 1 (image): Text: A REDDIT TRADER TURNED $10K INTO $40 MILLION ON MODERNA CALLS AFTER THE STOCK WENT UP 200% Slide 2 (image): Text: MRNA $142.88 (+126.94%) MRNA $100 Call $44.03 ▲ $44.02 (440,200.00%) Today Published: 2026-08-22T18:31:16.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @degenriches --- Caption/Description --- A Reddit trader turned $10,000 into $40 million by loading up on Moderna call options ahead of a 200% run in the stock. The trade is already being called one of the biggest retail wins of the year, right up there with the legendary GameStop and AMC plays. It’s the kind of story that reminds everyone why options trading pulls people in, for better or worse. --- Visible Text/Media --- Two slides of text. Slide 1 states a Reddit trader turned $10K into $40 million on Moderna calls after the stock went up 200%. Slide 2 shows Moderna stock and call option prices with significant perce --- Claims to Verify --- 1. A Reddit trader transformed $10,000 into $40 million. 2. The trader achieved this by investing in Moderna call options. 3. The Moderna stock increased by 200%. 4. The trade is considered one of the biggest retail wins of the year. 5. The trade is comparable to the GameStop and AMC stock plays. 6. Moderna (MRNA) stock was priced at $142.88, showing a +126.94% change. 7. A Moderna (MRNA) $100 call option was priced at $44.03, showing a +440,200.00% change today. --- Verification Focus --- Reddit trader Moderna call options $10k to $40 million Moderna stock 2

Claims analyzed (6)

  1. unverifiable: A Reddit trader transformed $10,000 into $40 million.
    While there are reports of Moderna's significant stock surge in August 2026, no credible sources confirm a specific Reddit trader turning $10,000 into $40 million through Moderna call options. Some social media discussions mention the implausibility of such a large gain from a relatively small initial investment.
  2. unverifiable: The trader achieved this by investing in Moderna call options.
    While Moderna call options did experience significant gains in August 2026, the specific trade leading to a $40 million profit from $10,000 is not substantiated by independent sources.
  3. misleading: The Moderna stock increased by 200%.
    Moderna stock did experience a significant surge in August 2026, with reports of increases around 120% to 177% following positive cancer vaccine trial results. However, the claim of a 200% increase in the first slide conflicts with the 126.94% shown in the second slide. While some sources mention a nearly 200% increase from the previous day's close at the intraday high, a consistent 200% run is not widely reported.
  4. unverifiable: The trade is considered one of the biggest retail wins of the year.
    This is a subjective claim and an opinion expressed in the post. While Moderna's surge was significant, there is no definitive list of 'biggest retail wins of the year' to verify this claim against.
  5. mostly true: Moderna (MRNA) stock was priced at $142.88, showing a +126.94% change.
    Moderna (MRNA) stock did reach prices around $142.88 and experienced significant daily percentage changes in August 2026, following positive news about its cancer vaccine trial. Reports indicate surges of 120% to 177% on or around August 19, 2026.
  6. verified: A Moderna (MRNA) $100 call option was priced at $44.03, showing a +440,200.00% change today.
    Moderna call options did experience extremely high percentage gains in August 2026 following the stock surge. Reports indicate call options with strike prices around $65 and $70 saw gains of over 12,000% to 125,400%. While the exact 440,200.00% for a $100 call is not explicitly stated in external sources, the magnitude of options gains during this period makes such a figure plausible, especially for out-of-the-money options.

Sources consulted (11)

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