The Motley Fool was founded in July 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, along with Erik Rydholm and Todd Etter, in Alexandria, Virginia. The idea behind The Motley Fool was to create a platform that would provide financial advice and investment guidance to individual investors in an accessible and engaging way. The name "Motley Fool" was inspired by Shakespeare's court jester character, who could speak truth to power without fear of reprisal. Today, The Motley Fool is still owned by The Motley Fool, LLC, with Tom Gardner serving as the CEO . Based in Alexandria, Virginia, The Motley Fool primarily covers financial news, stock market analysis, and investment advice. They offer a wide range of content including stock recommendations, market commentary, personal finance tips, and educational resources for investors. The company has expanded globally, with operations in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In addition to their website, they also produce podcasts, books, and offer premium subscription services for more in-depth investment guidance . **One interesting fact**: In 1994, The Motley Fool gained widespread attention through an April Fool's joke where they published a series of online statements promoting a nonexistent sewage-disposal company. This prank was designed to teach a lesson about investing and garnered significant media coverage, including an article in The Wall Street Journal .