Blockbuster turned down an offer to buy Netflix, and 22 other bad business decisions

Most investors have business decisions they regret — and this week's video from our sister site, Mental Floss, brings 23 of those bad decisions to light.

In 2005, for example, Rupert Murdoch's company, the News Corporation, bought MySpace for $580 million. But in 2011, it sold MySpace for just $35 million.

The biggest business mistake of all, though, might have been one at the hands of Blockbuster. The video rental company turned down multiple offers to buy Netflix, including one for just $50 million in the early 2000s. While Blockbuster has since met its demise, Netflix is now worth $20 billion.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Check out all of the bad business decisions in the video below, hosted by Paige Finch. —Meghan DeMaria

YouTube

Watch On