Zynga ZNGA

Founded in 2007 by Mark Pincus and his band of digital misfits, Zynga burst onto the scene with a cocktail of mind-numbing games like "FarmVille" and "Words With Friends" that turned productivity into a global joke. Known for pioneering the art of monetizing virtual livestock and pseudo-social interactions, Zynga's defining moment was its 2011 IPO—a high-flying debut that plummeted faster than you can say "in-app purchase." The company's valuation is as volatile as its fortunes, swaying from blockbuster highs to dismal lows as it grapples with user fatigue and a flood of copycat games. Despite a string of controversies from privacy breaches to questionable business practices, Zynga has racked up awards and accolades in the gaming world, though they often feel like hollow victories. Notable figures like former CEO Pincus and key execs such as Frank Gibeau have weathered the stormy seas of corporate upheaval, and while Zynga hasn’t exactly launched careers, it has certainly become a cautionary tale in the annals of Silicon Valley hubris.