What is the ‘30 under 30 curse'? Murdered CEO Pava LaPere part of Forbes list that once included Christian Kazadi and Billy McFarland
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: In the wake of the tragic death of tech CEO Pava LaPere, 26, there are growing murmurs that being featured on Forbes' illustrious '30 Under 30' list might carry an unexpected and ominous shadow of falling under the "30 Under 30 curse."
Notably, the '30 Under 30' is an annual compilation of exceptional young talents and is typically regarded as a prestigious accolade, a testament to the remarkable achievements of individuals under the age of 30.
The notion of a "curse" linked to the Forbes list gained traction after it was noticed that several individuals who had graced its pages over the years had subsequently faced legal troubles, arrests, and imprisonment.
Pava LaPere, a tech entrepreneur's death has further fueled the debate about whether there's more to this pattern than mere coincidence.
Who was Pava LaPere?
Pava LaPere, a 26-year-old tech entrepreneur, was no stranger to accolades. Having founded EcoMap Technologies from her college dorm room just four years prior, she quickly rose to the position of CEO.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, she earned recognition in Forbes' 2023 '30 Under 30' list, as well as on similar lists like Baltimore's '40 Under 40' and Maryland's '25 Under 25.'
Her promising career took a tragic turn when she was discovered beaten to death on the roof of her Maryland apartment building on Monday, September 25, following a missing person report filed on her behalf.
Authorities received the distressing call regarding LaPere's disappearance, although the identity of the caller remains unconfirmed.
Upon locating her body at the residence, police observed signs of blunt-force trauma, which is believed to have led to her death, as per The US Sun.
However, an official cause of death is pending confirmation from the coroner's office.
Authorities arrest Jason Billingsley in connection to the murder of Pava LaPere
In the wake of Pava LaPere's death, authorities swiftly issued a warrant for the arrest of Jason Billingsley, the prime suspect in her murder. His past is marred by a violent history, having served seven years behind bars for a conviction related to violent rape.
Maryland court records indicate that Billingsley choked a victim and forced her to perform oral sex on him during one instance.
Although initially sentenced to 30 years, he was released on parole after just seven years due to "good-time credits" granted by former District Attorney Marilyn Mosby, as reported by the Baltimore Banner.
However, Billingsley was arrested on Wednesday following an extensive manhunt.
People caught in the alleged '30 under 30 curse'
As the investigation into Pava LaPere's death unfolds, the concept of a "30 Under 30 curse" is gaining renewed attention. It appears that at least 14 individuals featured on Forbes' '30 Under 30' list have faced significant legal troubles or imprisonment.
While some speculate that the "30 Under 30 curse" may not be a mystical hex but rather a reflection of how vast wealth, power, and influence can potentially corrupt an individual's moral compass.
Elizabeth Holmes
While Elizabeth Holmes was not formally included in the '30 Under 30' list, she notably took center stage at the "Under 30 Summit" in 2015, during which she received the 'Under 30 Doers Award' for her contributions to the healthcare industry and the potential transformative impact of her company's technology.
In November 2022, Holmes, the founder of Theranos, received a substantial prison sentence of over 11 years for her involvement in defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup, which had previously been valued at an impressive $9 billion.
Rajat Gupta
In June 2012, Rajat Gupta faced conviction on four criminal felony counts related to conspiracy and securities fraud in connection with the Galleon scandal. In October of the same year, he received a two-year prison sentence, an additional year under supervised release, and was directed to pay fines totaling $5 million.
Conrad Black
In November and December of 2005, Conrad Black faced a series of charges from US federal prosecutors, including multiple counts of fraud, racketeering, and obstruction of justice.
Subsequently, in 2007, he was convicted on counts of mail fraud and obstruction of justice. As a result, he received a sentence of six and a half years in a federal prison and was also imposed a fine of $125,000.
Billy McFarland
Billy McFarland confessed to swindling investors of $26 million during the ill-fated 2017 Fyre Festival and defrauding more than $100,000 through a deceptive ticket-selling scheme following his arrest in connection with the scam.
The 30-year-old received a six-year sentence for wire fraud.
Christian Kazadi
The murder of Christian Kazadi, 29, a social media entrepreneur, in May 2022 remains a perplexing unsolved case.
Kazadi, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a South African immigrant since childhood, vanished after sharing an Instagram post about a safari experience in Botswana during his attendance at Forbes' inaugural summit in Africa.
Despite his notable achievements, such as founding the digital marketing agency Click Media with just $30 in his bank account in 2016 and working with major clients like ESPN, Adidas, KFC, and the NBA, his life took a tragic turn.
His lifeless body was discovered in Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital, more than 1,000 miles from his last known whereabouts in Botswana. His family claimed, Kazadi may have been beaten and tortured, although no confirmations have been made, as per The US Sun.
Sam Bankman-Fried
In 2021, Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, found himself in dire straits after encountering difficulties raising funds and facing a liquidity crisis. US prosecutors leveled fraud charges against him, leading to his arrest in the Bahamas in December 2022.
He was accused of defrauding investors, a scheme that ultimately led to his company's bankruptcy. Subsequently, in February, four additional charges were brought against him, alleging a conspiracy to make over 300 illegal political donations.
Presently, Bankman-Fried is out on bail, residing at the residence of his parents, and awaiting a trial scheduled for October.
Martin Shkreli
In 2012, Martin Shkreli got on the Forbes '30 Under 30' under the section of finance as he was known for his job managing hedge funds and his work as an entrepreneur.
Then, in December 2015, he got arrested for conspiracy charges connected to his role with two hedge funds, MSMB Capital Management and MSMB Healthcare, as well as Retrophin.
They said he mishandled money, used one company's assets to pay debts for another, and tricked investors. He also did a sneaky thing by using Retrophin's money to pay back people who lost money in his hedge funds.
In 2017, he was found guilty of securities fraud and received a seven-year sentence. But in 2022, Shkreli got out four months earlier than this prison term and is reportedly working with a law firm.
Internet reacts to the '30 Under 30 curse'
Netizens claim that the supposed '30 Under 30 curse' curse appears to grow increasingly ominous over time.
One user wrote, "30 under 30 curse getting darker."
A user claimed, "Forbes 30 Under 30 is real curse, either they turn scammers & end up in prison & now getting m urdered."
"30 under 30 is the new 27 club," another added.
Forbes 30 Under 30 is real curse, either they turn scammers & end up in prison & now getting m urdered. https://t.co/L93z0nnVgv
— Rango (@rango_tryme) September 28, 2023