The job market is so broken that Gen Z men are gambling their paychecks for a shot at instant millions: '$256K is about to go down on the table' | Fortune

"Gen Zers are over being told they just need to work harder if they don't want to be stuck living with their parents forever. So they're gambling their paychecks away in the hopes of becoming a millionaire without having to climb the greasy pole-they're winning (and losing) thousands, and it's all on camera. On "day 3" in his attempt of becoming a millionaire, @ chrisoneal4 filmed himself losing $4,000 all in the click of a button in Black Jack."

"One user, @ tizmtv_, filmed himself turning $1,000 to $256,000-and losing it on day 9. "There's now way," he screamed in disbelief to camera, while hitting the dashboard of his car. But he's racked up thousands of social media followers in the process and now, he's trying from scratch all over again. Most of these videos fall under the same style of double-or-nothing template. But others are gambling a dollar (or pound) for every follower they have,"

"And research shows it's more than just another TikTok trend. Gen Z-and specifically its male cohort-is leading the way on most gambling and sports betting participation. But experts warn the "fleeting sense of control" is exactly what keeps them coming back for more, often with devastating financial and emotional fallout. Gen Z men really are gambling more than any other generation right now"

Gen Z men increasingly use social media to pursue rapid wealth through filmed gambling challenges that attempt exponential doubling from small stakes. Participants commonly start with about $1,000, try to double repeatedly toward a million-dollar goal, and document wins and catastrophic losses. Videos use repeatable templates—double-or-nothing, betting per follower, or staking money for essentials like rent—and often reward creators with followers despite financial setbacks. Male Gen Z leads current gambling and sports-betting participation. Experts link the trend to market changes and social amplification and warn that a fleeting sense of control drives repeated risky behavior and serious fallout.

Read at Fortune