Liquid Death Says A Guy Owes It $100 For Betting On Its Demise Five Years Ago
Image via ColleenMichaels | Dreamstime.com
Despite its name, Liquid Death isn’t one to let past grudges die. Five years after being dismissed as a “braindead scam,” the canned water brand has come bubbling back with receipts.
In a LinkedIn post, CEO Mike Cessario resurfaced a particularly cutting email from a man named Seth, who not only trashed the company’s entire business model but confidently bet $100 that it would collapse within half a decade.
The terms? Pay up in person if Liquid Death was somehow still kicking in 2025. Well, it is—and Cessario would now like his money.
Seth’s 2019 email, shared in full by Cessario, had called the canned water startup “unsustainable,” mocked its branding, and questioned the sanity of anyone who chose to work there. The unhappy customer capped it all off with a direct promise: if the company lasted five years, he’d show up with a $100 bill.
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“I just wanted to let you know, your company and product are the dumbest, most braindead scam I have seen in my existence so far… It is not impressive. It is not revolutionary. It will burn out and die within the next five years, guaranteed,” read the letter.
“Seriously, contact me in five years and if you’re still employed by the same company selling the same product I will give you $100 in cash. In person. I will fly to wherever you are,” promised the irate sender.
“This ‘brand’ is completely unsustainable. You will not be able to convince the public that your product (literally just water with some CO2) is worth its price… It’s. Literally. Water. For the love of God just buy a filter and drink tap water. How much more boujee can you get?”
Now, with Liquid Death reportedly claiming the number-one spot in Amazon’s iced tea category and multiple sparkling water SKUs in the top ranks of innovation sales, Cessario is asking: where’s Seth?
More than a corporate “I told you so,” this story is a case study in branding persistence. Since its launch, the company has leaned heavily into irreverence—marketing canned water with skulls, black packaging, and slogans about murdering thirst.
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As of now, there’s been no word from Seth. What’s clear, though, is that Liquid Death has lived long enough to tell this tale… and to get its money back.
[via Mike Cessario, cover image via ColleenMichaels | Dreamstime.com]
