Like all great TV series that translate real life into drama, The Dropout knows how to keep a balance between its storytelling elements and its claims to the truth. In its depiction of Elizabeth Holmes, particularly her rise to success and abrupt fall, it brings together the many people who both enabled her and also ensured that the truth was revealed about her fraud.
It is thus especially helpful to consider these characters through the interpretive lens provided by the Myers-Briggs® personality system, in order to gain a more sophisticated understanding of their motivations and choices.
Elizabeth Holmes – INTJ
Amanda Seyfried has been in many great movies and TV shows, and it’s fairly certain that Elizabeth Holmes will be seen as one of her best roles. She is driven and at times ruthless, determined to see her vision brought to fruition, no matter what she has to do in order to make that a reality.
In all of these ways, she fits into the personality type of the INTJ, which is the type that is often the most ambitious to see their dreams come true. What’s more, she also has high expectations of herself and others.
Sunny Balwani – ESTP
Naveen Andrews is most ed for his appearance on Lost and, like other of the cast, he has been in many great subsequent roles. He brings a bristling intensity to Sunny Balwani, Elizabeth’s boyfriend and business partner. He is the type of person who always rushes to find the solution to a problem, often before taking the time needed to make sure that he knows what he’s doing.
He is thus very much an ESTP, for in addition to his other traits, he also shows that personality type’s love of luxury and good living.
George Shultz – ESFP
Sam Waterston plays the character of George Shultz who is one of Elizabeth’s most important backers, since his blessing comes with all of his authority as a prominent political figure in various Republican istrations.
He shows all of the signs of being an ESFP, particularly in his desire to help others bring their hopes to fruition, whether that is Elizabeth or his grandson Tyler.
Phyllis Gardner – ENTJ
Along with several of her co-stars, Laurie Metcalf has been in many notable and well-regarded roles. She brings her star power to the character of Phyllis Gardner, one of the few people who isn’t seduced by Elizabeth’s charm and drive.
She has all of the ENTJ’s ability to see illogical conclusions, which is what allows her to realize very quickly that Elizabeth is nothing more than a fraud. Just as importantly, she also has that personality type’s willingness and ability to take leadership, particularly when it comes to seeing Elizabeth’s true nature revealed to the world.
Tyler Shultz – ENFP
As George Shultz’s grandson, Tyler is very willing to use his grandfather’s position and influence to gain a job at Theranos. However, he quickly starts to see the ugly reality, that not everything at the company is as functional as Elizabeth and Sunny would like the world to believe.
While he knows this, at first his character traits as an ENFP, particularly a yearning to attain the approval of others, keeps him from acting, though he ultimately does begin to see the truth.
Erika Cheung – INFP
The INFP personality type is the one that is most committed to making sure that the world matches their values, and they will often take great measures to see to it that that comes to .
Erika definitely fits within this model because she, more than almost anyone else at Theranos, feels a genuine moral desire to report on what she is seeing. For her, it’s simply not ethical that the company is promising to deliver something that it cannot do, often to the detriment of very real people in the outside world.
Ian Gibbons – ESFJ
Of all of the scientists that Theranos, Ian Gibbons seems to be the one that is most personally committed to Elizabeth Holmes and her vision. Like most other ESFJs, he is a genuinely warmhearted and conscientious person, which is precisely what makes Holmes’ eventual betrayal of him so wrenching for him.
As a person who values loyalty more than almost anything else, he simply cannot fathom why she would be so dismissive of him and would simply fire him without thinking through the consequences.
Richard Fuisz – ENTP
William H. Macy has many great roles in his filmography, so it’s not surprising that he would imbue the egotistical and abrasive Richard Fuisz with his own unique brand of charisma.
His ENTP personality has been key in allowing him to attain success in the world of technology, even as his tendency to get bored by doing the same thing twice can at times be to his own detriment. There’s no doubt, however, that is a genius at what he does.
John Carreyrou – ESTJ
One of the key players in bringing down Elizabeth Holmes is the journalist John Carreyrou, who keeps digging for information until he gets what he needs to know.
As an ESTJ, it’s not surprising that he is a very matter-of-fact and deliberate person, as this is a key part of his craft and technique as a journalist. What’s more, he also shows that personality type’s forcefulness when it comes to seeing his plans implemented, which is why he’s able to get to the truth about Holmes and her work at Theranos.
David Boies – INTP
Whatever else she might be, Elizabeth Holmes is no fool, which is why she manages to procure the services of the lawyer David Boies.
Given that he’s a very successful lawyer, it’s not surprising that Boies fits into the INTP personality type. He knows how to get to the heart of a problem, and once he sets his sights on a goal, he’s not going to let it get away from him. It’s for this reason that he ultimately has to force Holmes’ hand in revealing to him what, exactly, is going on at Theranos.