Dumb Money: How did Keith Gill’s sister die?

Dumb Money, which is currently riding high on the Netflix top 10 chart, tells the true story of the Reddit GameStop saga, inadvertently kickstarted by Keith Gill – but did his sister really die, and if so, how?

David and Goliath tales are the perfect blueprint for movie narratives, and in 2021 – at the height of the pandemic – we witnessed one unfold in real-time as a collective of everyday people banded together to take on Wall Street. 

After hedge funders took massive short bets out against failing GameStop stocks, YouTuber and small-time investor Keith Gill did the opposite, sinking his life savings into the company and posting about it. What followed was a modern-day battle, one characterized by memes, money, and mayhem.

This is the subject of Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money, which dropped on Netflix this week and quickly raced to second place on the top 10 movies chart. As well as centering on the GameStop saga, it delves into the life and mind of Gill, whose sister tragically died. 

Dumb Money: How did Keith Gill’s sister die?

Keith Gill’s sister, Sara Gill, died on June 25, 2020, at age 43. In Dumb Money, the family explains the death was “unexpected,” which is true to real life. According to GQ, she died from COVID.

But the cause of death wasn’t stated in Sara’s obituary, which reads: “Sara E. Gill, 43, of Brockton, died unexpectedly on June 25, 2020. Sara was a graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School and attended Massasoit College. ‘Miss Sara’ was a paraprofessional in special education, working at West Junior High School. Creative and computer savvy, she loved helping the students with projects and science fairs. 

“Sara was well known in her community, having also worked as a cashier at Tedeschi’s on Belmont St. for many years. She was loved by all and will be missed. Sara was the beloved daughter of Steven G. and Elaine M. (Buckley) Gill; loving mother of Tyreek, Isaiah, and Jayden; sister of Keith Gill (and Caroline), Kevin Gill, and the late Brenda Gill; aunt of Evelyn Rose. Sara also leaves many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.”

Waitt Funeral Home

During Keith’s iconic testimony at the GameStop hearing – the one in which he declared, “I am not a cat,” referring to his online alias Roaring Kitty – he explained, “We had an incredibly difficult 2020; most difficult was the tragic and unexpected loss of my sister Sarah in June. I am grateful to be in a position to give back to, and support, my family.” Reports state that Sara’s three children were taken in by their grandparents.

Dumb Money is available to stream on Netflix now, and you can find the rest of our coverage here.