The KmikeyM Project
The World’s First Publicly Traded Person
Since 2008, the KmikeyM project has been an unprecedented social experiment and performance piece examining finance, collective governance, and personal autonomy. Through a fully-functional virtual stock market at kmikeym.com, Mike Merrill invites people to purchase shares in his life and vote on his personal and professional decisions.
How It Works
Purchasing Shares
Anyone can purchase shares in KmikeyM through the website at the current market price. As of recent data:
- Current share price: $4.89
- Total shareholders: ~160
- Historical range: Started at 8.75/share
- Trading volume: Individual trades range from 146.35 depending on volume
Shares are purchased via Stripe, and new accounts are created automatically upon first purchase.
Trading
Shareholders can trade shares among themselves through the platform’s trading system:
- Offers section for posting buy/sell intentions
- Completed trades tracked in user accounts
- Active secondary market among shareholders
- Mike holds majority non-voting shares released at bi-annual auctions
Voting System
The voting system is modeled on corporate shareholder resolutions:
Voting Power: Each shareholder receives one vote multiplied by their number of shares. The more shares owned, the more influence over decisions.
What Gets Voted On: Shareholders vote on both major and minor life decisions, including:
- Career moves and job opportunities
- Personal lifestyle choices
- Relationship decisions
- Physical modifications
- Daily habits and routines
- New projects and ventures
Binding Results: All votes are binding—Mike follows the will of his shareholders.
Annual Forums: At shareholder question forums, issues are brought up either by Mike or proposed by shareholders. Resolutions present arguments and shareholders vote “For” or “Against.”
Origin Story
The project was inspired by Etoy.Corporation’s 2005 experiment converting their art collective into a shareholder company. However, Mike identified a critical flaw: “Etoy didn’t have a market, just a company with shares that one couldn’t sell.”
The catalyst came from a failed Portland Mercury charity auction bid. When friends pooled money to support his scheme, Mike had a realization: “If my friends trust me on this one weird random project, then they probably just trust me. So why not have them give me that money for my next big project?”
What began as a performance piece examining finance evolved into a 15+ year exploration of collective governance structures and experimental economics.
Notable Shareholder Decisions
Diet & Lifestyle
- Pescetarian diet: Shareholders voted Mike into this dietary restriction
- Political affiliation: Registered as Republican per shareholder vote
Body Modifications
- Panic Inc tattoo: Got “Panic Inc” tattooed on his shoulder following shareholder direction
The Vasectomy Vote
Perhaps the most dramatic decision—Mike put the question of getting a vasectomy to shareholders after moving in with his girlfriend. The procedure was narrowly avoided “by just one vote.”
Romance Project
Following a 10-year relationship breakup, Mike launched an initiative allowing shareholders to:
- Approve or veto dating prospects
- Weigh in on potential partners
- Guide relationship decisions
Shareholder Community
The KmikeyM network consists of approximately 160 shareholders who actively participate in governance. The community engages through:
- Discord: Real-time shareholder communication
- Substack newsletter: Regular updates (3,000+ subscribers)
- Blog: News and project updates at news.kmikeym.com
- Podcast: Discussions and shareholder communications
- User directory: Connect with fellow shareholders
- Leaderboard: Track top shareholders
- Monthly Poker Tournament: Once-a-month poker games for shareholder community building
As childhood friend and shareholder Josh Berezin notes: “I care about the decisions that come out of the project, but I’ve also lobbied others to ensure certain outcomes because that’s even more fun.”
Transparency & Commitment
Mike maintains radical transparency through multiple platforms: “I’m open to presenting everything to the public that doesn’t violate the privacy of someone else.”
Long-term Commitment: Mike signed a $100,000 life insurance policy that would distribute payouts to shareholders proportional to their ownership in the event of his death.
Platform Features
- Share trading: Buy and sell shares on the open market
- Voting portal: Participate in decisions at vote.kmikeym.com
- Account management: Track holdings and trading history
- Quick Start Guide: Educational resources for new shareholders
- About & FAQ: Comprehensive documentation
Philosophy
The project demonstrates how “giving up control to others” paradoxically demonstrates personal agency. Mike views his shareholder structure as a formalized version of the advisory relationships most people maintain informally—friends and family often influence our decisions, but KmikeyM makes this process transparent and structured.
Media Coverage
The project has been featured in major outlets including:
- VICE
- The Today Show
- Playboy
- The Hustle
- WIRED
- The Atlantic Monthly
- Fast Company
- CNBC
Mike has also presented about the project at TEDxVienna.
Getting Started
To become a shareholder:
- Visit kmikeym.com
- Purchase shares at current market price
- Create your account (automatic on first purchase)
- Join the community on Discord
- Start voting on upcoming decisions
Subscribe to the Substack newsletter for regular updates on votes, projects, and shareholder communications.
Part of KmikeyM | Quarterly Knowledge Base