Why do celebrities ring the New York Stock Exchange bell? Is it because they have a project to promote, a longtime fascination with the stock market, a complex fetish for percussion instruments and stressed-out traders in suits? Who knows! But a lot of celebrities have gotten to ring the opening bell the past few years, and thanks to a new article in The Atlantic, we now know which movie stars are responsible for kicking off the biggest drops in recent memory. Be forewarned: Captain America may be able to protect the country against Nazis but his mighty shield cannot protect the NYSE.
Hilary Duff, December 23,2008
Project: ?
Change: -99.16
Elijah Wood, September 18, 2009
Project: 9 (Yeah, I didn't remember that either)
Market Change: +35.45
Meatloaf, June 21, 2010
Project: ?
Market Change: -105.49
Sylvester Stallone, August 19, 2010
Project: The Expendables
Market Change: -139.94
Chris Evans, July 11, 2011
Project: Captain America
Market Change: -150.01
The Smurfs, July 29, 2011
Project: The Smurfs
Market Change: -96.04
We're not saying you should blame Chris Evans, but some folks take their stocks very seriously. Can he reverse his entirely coincidental impact on your portfolio by returning to the NYSE floor with his next, more thematically relevant film, What's Your Number?.
ยท Have Celebrities Been Cursing the Stock Market? [The Atlantic]