The Motley Fool is a private financial and investing advice company founded in July 1993 by brothers David and Tom Gardner in Alexandria, Virginia. Its name comes from Shakespeare's As You Like It, referencing the court jester who could speak truth to the Duke without punishment. The company gained early notoriety in 1994 with an April Fool's joke about a fake sewage company, which led to a partnership with AOL and a bestselling 1996 book. After surviving the dot-com bust (which forced an 80% staff reduction in 2001), the firm pivoted to a subscription model in 2002 with its Stock Advisor program. Today, it operates in the UK, Australia, and Canada, and has expanded into sub-brands like The Ascent (personal finance) and Millionacres (real estate), while also testifying before Congress on mutual fund issues.