What we can VERIFY about Enron’s return to the internet

Enron, once among the largest energy companies in the U.S., has become a punchline since it famously collapsed amid inflated profits and corporate fraud in 2001. Now, social media posts, a slick promotional video and a revamped website suggest the infamous company is making a comeback. 

On Dec. 2, it posted promotional videos on TikTok, BlueSky and X about adapting to the changing world featuring inspiring imagery and diverse voices claiming "I am Enron" with the tagline, “We're back. Can we talk?”

To coincide with the video and website launch, cryptocurrency bloggers speculated Enron will be involved in cryptocurrency exchange. Others speculated the rebranding is fake or parody.

THE SOURCES

• Enron.com terms of use page
• Will Chabot, managing director of media strategy for Stu Loeser & Co.
• Enron Corporation articles of incorporation
• United States Patent and Trademark Office
• Wayback Machine archives of Enron.com

WHAT WE FOUND

On Dec. 2, a company calling itself Enron Corporation published a promotional video on social media, introduced a new website and issued a press release announcing a relaunch of the company. But the relaunched website calls itself a parody. The new company with the infamous name is owned by Connor Gaydos, the co-founder of satirical conspiracy group “Birds Aren’t Real.”

A disclaimer on the website’s terms of service page reads, “THE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE IS FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED PARODY, REPRESENTS PERFORMANCE ART, AND IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.”  

VERIFY reached out to the media contact listed on Enron’s website and in the press release about the site’s relaunch. Will Chabot, spokesperson for the current Enron brand and managing director of media strategy for Stu Loeser & Co., would not confirm or deny if the company was real or parody, but did direct VERIFY to the company’s articles of incorporation and press release about the relaunch. 

“I understand you had some questions about Enron's launch. While I'm not able to answer all of them (we'll have more to share soon - including a big announcement in the energy space - and will be sure to keep you in the loop),” Chabot told VERIFY.

The latest iteration of Enron Corporation’s articles of incorporation were filed in Delaware on Feb. 28, 2024 by Gaydos, according to records provided to VERIFY by Chabot. 

Gaydos is the co-founder of Birds Aren’t Real, a satirical conspiracy group founded in 2017 that jokingly claims the U.S. government has been replacing living birds with surveillance drones. 

Gaydos registered the Enron trademark on May 13, 2020, through his The College Company LLC, which also has registered trademarks for Birds Aren’t Real. According to the trademark application for Enron, the trademark is used for shirts and other merchandise. The new website has merchandise for sale.

Archival versions of Enron.com dating back to 1998 are available on The Wayback Machine. 

In January of 2024, the website domain of enron.com was available for purchase, archives of the page show. The last time that URL represented the bankrupt energy giant was in 2007.

There is no evidence to support claims the Enron brand was relaunched as a cryptocurrency firm, as some have speculated. 

There is a page on Enron’s new website titled “decentralization,” which is a common term to describe the kind of technology behind cryptocurrency. The website says, “Decentralized technology is advancing, and we will of course have a role to play in its future. We couldn't be more excited to show you, but until then please stay vigilant and avoid falling for scams. When we announce something, you'll know.”