Who is Connor Gaydos? “Birds aren’t real creators” is now CEO of Enron’s Parodic Rebirth

Connor Gaydos, one of the satirical creators of “Birds Aren’t Real,” has become the first CEO of Enron’s outrageous relaunch. Under his leadership, the company, reintroduced as performance art, appropriates the infamous brand, but with a twist of satire and controversy.

Energy giant Enron has announced its return, causing a stir in both the corporate and entertainment worlds. Once synonymous with corporate scandal and bankruptcy, the company has returned with a new public identity and leadership. This bizarre rebirth is led by 28-year-old Connor Gaydos, best known as the co-inventor of the satirical conspiracy theory “Birds don’t exist.”

But who is Gaydos, this character better known for humor and satire who eventually became CEO of the relaunched Enron?

In early December 2024, a website and public presence for the newly renamed Enron corporation began appearing online and on billboards throughout the greater Houston area. The news stunned many given Enron’s history of fraud and eventual collapse in the early 2000s.

But what happened next was even more surprising: Gaydos, the leading figure in the parody world, was named the new CEO.

Magan Redino and Daniel Wong, who will become chief technology officer, round out the leadership team. And Rich Sybert joins as general counsel. There is of course something ironic that such a serious name is associated with the relaunch of this company.
Gaydos released a video saying that despite Enron’s “dark past,” the company’s “groundbreaking” plans would soon be revealed.

A satire at its core

However, Enron is not a relaunch as it seems. In its website’s terms and conditions, the company has included a disclaimer stating that it is a “protected parody of the First Amendment” and that it is “performance art” created for entertainment purposes. This fits perfectly with Gaydos’ background as a satirist.

He is also co-owner of The College Company, the Arkansas-based company that now owns the trademark rights to the Enron logo.

For those who don’t believe it, the company’s entire operations can be viewed in the context of Gaydos’ larger vision – namely, mixing satire with real life, something he’s already famous for in the vein of Birds Aren’t Real .

Connor Gaydos: From Birds Aren’t Real to Enron CEO

Connor Gaydos was one of the founding members of the Birds Aren’t Real movement. This is a satirical, humorous conspiracy theory that believes birds are government surveillance drones. It was originally created as a parody to mock the growing trend of misinformation and wild conspiracy theories.

Today it is a popular movement with dedicated fans, complete with official college divisions and a highly engaged online community. The movement is therefore thanks to Gaydos and his accomplice Peter McIndoe, who created all sorts of fake evidence, historical documents and even witness statements to make this unbelievable.

Gaydos’ company, The College Company, purchased the Enron name in 2020 for $275. Since then, social media accounts under the Enron name have promoted the relaunch, using the original Enron logo in advertising. A recent full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle boldly declared, “We’re back. Can we talk?”

This move was met with a mixture of interest and scandal. For many, the name Enron still brings back memories of scandals, corporate malfeasance and the collapse of one of the largest energy companies in U.S. history. But for Gaydos it seems to be a chance to combine his particular style of humor and performative art with a real business entity. Only time will tell if this very unorthodox rebrand will overcome the hype surrounding its re-emergence.

READ ALSO | No more crowns! Why the Netherlands is saying goodbye to its beauty pageant