In 1995, Pepsi ran a campaign that promised the impossible: a $33.8 million fighter jet.
A 21-year-old student found a loophole to claim it for just $700,000.
He gathered investors, followed every rule, and waited for his jet.
But Pepsi refused to hand it over.
What followed was a legal battle that became the stuff of legend:
The "Pepsi Stuff" campaign was straightforward:
Buy Pepsi products, collect points, and redeem them for prizes.
A T-shirt? 75 points.
Sunglasses? 175 points.
A leather jacket? 1,450 points.
Then came the ad that changed everything.
A teenager lands a Harrier Jet at his school, and the screen flashes:
"Harrier Jet – 7,000,000 Pepsi Points."
Pepsi thought it was clearly a joke.
But not everyone saw it that way.
Enter John Leonard, a 21-year-old business student from Seattle.
He noticed something in Pepsi’s fine print:
You could buy Pepsi Points for 10 cents each.
The math was simple:
7 million points x 10 cents = $700,000.
A Harrier Jet was worth $33.8 million.
This wasn’t just a good deal—it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But he needed help.
Leonard convinced five investors to back his plan.
He followed Pepsi’s rules to the letter:
• Secured an original order form from the Pepsi Stuff catalog
• Collected 15 original Pepsi Points
• Wrote a check for $700,008.50 (including shipping)
Then he waited for his jet.
Pepsi panicked.
They sent Leonard a letter, calling the ad a "joke" and offering him free Pepsi instead.
Leonard wasn’t having it.
He wanted his jet.
So he sued, and the legal battle that followed was epic.
In court, Pepsi argued the ad was "obviously hyperbolic" and not meant to be taken seriously.
Leonard fired back:
If it was a joke, why specify 7 million points?
Why allow points to be purchased for cash?
Why not include a disclaimer?
The case dragged on, exposing a harsh truth:
Companies love making outrageous promises to grab attention.
But when someone tries to claim those promises?
They backtrack and call it "hyperbole."
In the end, the judge ruled in Pepsi’s favor.
Judge Kimba Wood stated that "no reasonable person" would believe the ad was a real offer.
Leonard lost the case.
But the story didn’t end there.
The lawsuit forced companies to rethink their advertising strategies.
Here’s why this story matters today:
In 1995, Pepsi controlled the narrative.
In 2024, the story would play out completely differently.
Leonard would’ve gone viral overnight.
The internet would’ve rallied behind him.
Pepsi wouldn’t just face a legal battle—they’d face the court of public opinion.
The power has shifted.
Today, one person with a bold idea and an audience can challenge a billion-dollar company.
It’s not about who has the biggest budget anymore.
It’s about who controls the narrative.
So, here’s the question:
When someone Googles your name, what do they see?
Are you waiting for recognition, or are you owning your story?
The biggest opportunities don’t go to the smartest people.
They go to the most visible.
How visible are you?
In a world where attention is the most valuable currency, your visibility is your superpower.
John Leonard saw an opportunity and took a shot—even if he didn’t win, his story lives on.
What’s your Harrier Jet moment?
What bold move could you make today that people will talk about tomorrow?
The tools are in your hands.
The platforms are waiting.
The question isn’t can you—it’s will you?
Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t wait for recognition.
Own your story.
Build your audience.
And when the moment comes, be ready to land your jet.
#wfwizzy190In 1995, Pepsi ran a campaign that promised the impossible: a $33.8 million fighter jet.
A 21-year-old student found a loophole to claim it for just $700,000.
He gathered investors, followed every rule, and waited for his jet.
But Pepsi refused to hand it over.
What followed was a legal battle that became the stuff of legend:
The "Pepsi Stuff" campaign was straightforward:
Buy Pepsi products, collect points, and redeem them for prizes.
A T-shirt? 75 points.
Sunglasses? 175 points.
A leather jacket? 1,450 points.
Then came the ad that changed everything.
A teenager lands a Harrier Jet at his school, and the screen flashes:
"Harrier Jet – 7,000,000 Pepsi Points."
Pepsi thought it was clearly a joke.
But not everyone saw it that way.
Enter John Leonard, a 21-year-old business student from Seattle.
He noticed something in Pepsi’s fine print:
You could buy Pepsi Points for 10 cents each.
The math was simple:
7 million points x 10 cents = $700,000.
A Harrier Jet was worth $33.8 million.
This wasn’t just a good deal—it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But he needed help.
Leonard convinced five investors to back his plan.
He followed Pepsi’s rules to the letter:
• Secured an original order form from the Pepsi Stuff catalog
• Collected 15 original Pepsi Points
• Wrote a check for $700,008.50 (including shipping)
Then he waited for his jet.
Pepsi panicked.
They sent Leonard a letter, calling the ad a "joke" and offering him free Pepsi instead.
Leonard wasn’t having it.
He wanted his jet.
So he sued, and the legal battle that followed was epic.
In court, Pepsi argued the ad was "obviously hyperbolic" and not meant to be taken seriously.
Leonard fired back:
If it was a joke, why specify 7 million points?
Why allow points to be purchased for cash?
Why not include a disclaimer?
The case dragged on, exposing a harsh truth:
Companies love making outrageous promises to grab attention.
But when someone tries to claim those promises?
They backtrack and call it "hyperbole."
In the end, the judge ruled in Pepsi’s favor.
Judge Kimba Wood stated that "no reasonable person" would believe the ad was a real offer.
Leonard lost the case.
But the story didn’t end there.
The lawsuit forced companies to rethink their advertising strategies.
Here’s why this story matters today:
In 1995, Pepsi controlled the narrative.
In 2024, the story would play out completely differently.
Leonard would’ve gone viral overnight.
The internet would’ve rallied behind him.
Pepsi wouldn’t just face a legal battle—they’d face the court of public opinion.
The power has shifted.
Today, one person with a bold idea and an audience can challenge a billion-dollar company.
It’s not about who has the biggest budget anymore.
It’s about who controls the narrative.
So, here’s the question:
When someone Googles your name, what do they see?
Are you waiting for recognition, or are you owning your story?
The biggest opportunities don’t go to the smartest people.
They go to the most visible.
How visible are you?
In a world where attention is the most valuable currency, your visibility is your superpower.
John Leonard saw an opportunity and took a shot—even if he didn’t win, his story lives on.
What’s your Harrier Jet moment?
What bold move could you make today that people will talk about tomorrow?
The tools are in your hands.
The platforms are waiting.
The question isn’t can you—it’s will you?
Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t wait for recognition.
Own your story.
Build your audience.
And when the moment comes, be ready to land your jet.
#wfwizzy190
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