The Haunting Tale: Unveiling 15 Shocking Deals Made by Verna in the Fall of the House of Usher

WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for The Fall of the House of Usher episode 8!

Summary

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," it is unveiled that Verna has had connections with numerous significant figures throughout history, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Gina Rinehart, Brett Kavanaugh, Rupert Murdoch, the Trump family, and the Vanderbilt family.

These photos indicate that throughout history, Verna has served as the origin of both wealth and power for these individuals. It strongly implies that acquiring immense wealth is akin to making a pact with the devil.

Featuring these well-known figures underscores the malicious and dishonest aspects of wealth and power, as well as the extreme measures individuals are willing to take in order to attain them.

In The Fall of the House of Usher, it is revealed that Verna has been involved with numerous historical figures, particularly influential tycoons and politicians. The Netflix series, created by renowned filmmaker and writer Mike Flanagan, is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's works, including the short story with the same title. The series follows the dramatic downfall of Roderick Usher, a corrupt pharmaceutical CEO, as his heirs mysteriously and wickedly meet their ends. In House of Usher, Carla Gugino portrays Verna, a shape-shifting demon with a mysterious past, who embarks on eliminating Roderick's heirs.

In Episode 6 of The Fall of the House of Usher, the family's lawyer, Arthur Gordon Pym, finally unravels the mystery surrounding Verna's identity. Through his investigation, Arthur discovers photos depicting Verna alongside various influential business magnates and politicians spanning several centuries. These photos offer undeniable proof that Verna has created multiple wealthy and powerful dynasties, with the wealth and influence of these historical figures being a direct result of her dealings. The series explores the concept that amassing immense wealth is akin to striking a deal with the devil, and the recognizable figures in the photos are revealed to be Verna's other "clients."

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15 The Koch Family

In the picture, Verna can be seen standing alongside the Koch family, particularly David Koch. Koch Industries, an expansive conglomerate corporation, holds the distinction of being the second largest privately owned company in the United States. David Koch, as well as his older brother Charles, the CEO of the company, rank among the wealthiest individuals worldwide, with fortunes surpassing $50 billion. Notably, the family and their enterprise have gained recognition for their patronage of conservative political campaigns and their efforts to impede climate action.

14 Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, renowned in both pop culture and global news, remains consistently prominent as the CEO of Meta and the mastermind behind Facebook. In the accompanying image, Verna is seen leisurely walking alongside Zuckerberg, suggesting the enigmatic individual struck a life-altering agreement with a shape-shifting demon during his college days.

13 Gina Rinehart

Verna, a character from The Fall of the House of Usher, mentioned that Gina Rinehart is a mining magnate and one of the world's wealthiest individuals. She serves as the CEO of Hancock Prospecting, a company established by her father. In an NPR report, it was disturbingly revealed that Rinehart once proposed that labor expenses could be reduced by employing Africans who are willing to work for less than $2 a day. Throughout her life, Rinehart has been involved in numerous controversies, including her denial of and dissemination of false information about climate change.

12 Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh's photo would have been familiar to many American viewers, as he is known as the Supreme Court Justice controversially appointed by Donald Trump. Despite facing allegations of sexual assault brought forward by multiple women during his appointment in 2018, Kavanaugh still assumed the position. Perhaps his interactions with Verna could shed light on why this happened, at least within the world of The Fall of the House of Usher.

11 Mitch McConnell

In this image, Verna from The Fall of the House of Usher is seen alongside Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a long-standing member of the U.S. Senate since 1985. McConnell's tenure has enabled him to amass a personal wealth estimated at $35 million, and he has been leading the Senate Republican Conference since 2007. Notably, McConnell played a significant role in voting "not guilty" during Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

10 Larry Ellison

Verna is seen alongside Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle software company, in Mike Flanagan's Netflix horror show. Ellison, who served as the CEO of the company from 1977 to 2014, currently holds the position of its CTO. Larry Ellison, with a net worth of over $100 billion, is one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Notably, Ellison has faced controversies related to providing financial support to election deniers in 2020 (via Forbes) and privacy breaches through the collection of data from billions of individuals.

9 Rupert Murdoch

Renowned for his ownership of Fox News and numerous other news outlets, Rupert Murdoch stands as one of the most prominent moguls across the globe. A testament to his influence and intriguing history, HBO's critically acclaimed series, Succession, draws partial inspiration from the Murdoch family and their media empire. Similarly drawing comparisons to Succession, The Fall of the House of Usher features a photograph showcasing a young Rupert Murdoch with the enigmatic figure of Verna lingering in the background. This captivating image from the 1980s serves as the first visual evidence of Verna's enduring presence, as her appearance remains unchanged over the years.

8 The Trump Family

7 The Getty Family

In an earlier photograph, Verna is seen standing alongside Donald Trump, his father Fred Trump, and Fred Trump Jr. The Trump family gained power and influence in the real estate industry during the 20th century, ultimately leading to Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the United States in 2016. Even in his younger years, Donald Trump was easily recognizable to most people, largely due to his divisive reputation as a global figure. Just before the conclusion of "The Fall of the House of Usher," Verna mentions a notorious quote attributed to Donald Trump, suggesting that he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot someone" without facing any consequences.

In the upcoming image, Verna can be seen standing far behind along with the well-known oil magnate, J. Paul Getty. Getty, who established the Getty Oil Company in 1942, passed away in 1976, making the photograph significantly aged. During the 1950s and 1960s, Getty ranked among the wealthiest individuals globally, coinciding with the commencement of the flashbacks in the timeline of "The Fall of the House of Usher."

6 Prescott Bush

The last name Bush was recognizable to viewers, given that Prescott Bush is the father of George H. W. Bush and the grandfather of George W. Bush, who served as the 41st and 43rd Presidents of the United States, respectively. Actively contributing to the path leading to both presidencies, Prescott Bush held the position of United States Senator for Connecticut in the 1950s. Interestingly, The Fall of the House of Usher intimates that the Bushes' influence originated from Verna.

5 William Randolph Hearst

In the 1940s, Verna can be seen standing beside William Randolph Hearst in the accompanying photograph. Hearst, a prominent newspaper tycoon, was responsible for the development of one of the largest media chains during his era. His approach to journalism involved sensationalism and yellow journalism, which significantly influenced the provocative style of modern American media. Presently, Hearst Communications continues to publish magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Esquire, while also serving as a major partner for The Walt Disney Company.

4 The Rockefeller Family

John D. Rockefeller, who lived from 1839 to 1937, enjoyed an extraordinary lifespan for that era, enabling him to acquire the distinction of being America's first billionaire. Notably, Rockefeller served as a co-founder of Standard Oil, a company that would eventually give rise to Chevron and ExxonMobil. As illustrated in the accompanying photograph featuring Verna standing alongside him and his family, it becomes evident that she played a pivotal role in their unparalleled wealth.

3 Edward L. Doheny

Similar to Rockefeller, Edward L. Doheny became a prominent figure in the American oil industry, playing a crucial role in the emergence of the petroleum boom in Southern California. Doheny became embroiled in one of the largest scandals in U.S. history, known as the Teapot Dome scandal, which exposed corrupt dealings between influential businessmen and politicians through bribes. This scandal remains infamous in highlighting government corruption. Drawing parallels to the corrupt portrayal of Ligodone, the fictional drug in The Fall of the House of Usher, as well as the unethical practices of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, Verna's association with Doheny in the story reinforces this theme.

2 The Vanderbilt Family

The Vanderbilt family, prominent tycoons during the Gilded Age renowned for their vast railroad empire, can be seen in the background of the next photo alongside Verna. Similar to the Ushers, the Vanderbilt family experienced a significant decline in their wealth during the mid-20th century, resulting in what was famously known as the "Fall of the House of Vanderbilt." Considering the themes portrayed in Flanagan's Netflix show, it is highly plausible that Verna would have played a significant role in this historic downfall.

1 John Francis Queeny

As highlighted in the series, the earliest photograph captures Verna alongside John Francis Queeny in 1901, a staggering 120 years prior to the Usher family's downfall. Queeny, renowned for establishing Monsanto Chemical Works, a company involved in agricultural biotechnology and chemicals, orchestrated the sale of the company in 2016 for a whopping $66 billion (via NPR). Although Verna's oldest picture can be traced back to 1901, The Fall of the House of Usher implies that she has been bestowing immense wealth and influence upon "clients" for an even more extensive duration.

Sources: NPR, Forbes