# Why we remain fascinated by Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced Theranos founder

The Guardian's culture section examines the enduring public fascination with Elizabeth Holmes, the Theranos founder convicted of fraud after claiming her startup could revolutionise blood testing with tiny samples. The piece explores why her story—a charismatic founder, Silicon Valley hype and a spectacular downfall—continues to draw attention through books, documentaries and dramatisations. It matters as a cultural lens on startup culture, ambition and accountability.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [The Guardian Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/17/elizabeth-holmes-documentary-why-we-care) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:00:28 GMT
- [The Guardian Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/21/elizabeth-holmes-you-can-see-everything-disgrace-documentary) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:02:28 GMT