From $10K to $300K in 24 Hours: The UNH Options Gamble

In the world of retail investing, where stories of rags-to-riches trades often border on myth, one recent WallStreetBets (WSB) saga has taken the internet by storm a trader turned $10,000 into $300,000 in less than 24 hours, all on a single options play that was one day away from expiring worthless.

Yes, you read that right.

This isn’t a meme stock moonshot or a GME-style squeeze. This is pure market timing, insider-level information interpretation, and a jaw-dropping dose of luck all wrapped in a high-risk, high-reward options trade on UnitedHealth Group (UNH).

The Setup: A 13F Filing That Sparked a Firestorm

It all started with a routine regulatory filing the kind most investors glance over or file away for later analysis. On a quiet Thursday evening, Berkshire Hathaway released its latest 13F filing, disclosing its portfolio holdings as of the previous quarter.

Buried in the data was a bombshell: Warren Buffett’s firm had increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group (UNH), one of the largest healthcare insurers in the U.S. While Buffett is known for his long-term value investing, any new or increased position in his portfolio sends shockwaves through the market.

Retail traders, especially those on Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets, pounced on the news. Why would Buffett double down on UNH unless he saw massive value or an upcoming catalyst?

One trader, known only by his WSB DerianV, saw the signal — and decided to go all-in.

The Trade: $10K on Expiring Options

With UNH trading around $270, the trader bought out-of-the-money (OTM) call options set to expire in just one day. These were long shots — the kind of options most brokers warn retail investors about. The odds of them finishing in the money? Slim.

But the trader wasn’t betting on fundamentals alone — he was betting on momentum, on the market’s reaction to Buffett’s endorsement.

He allocated $10,000 to buy calls with a strike price of $280 or $285, expiring the next day. With only 24 hours until expiration, time decay (theta) was working against him. If UNH didn’t move up sharply, his entire investment would vanish.

But then, the market opened.

The Surge: UNH Jumps 14% Overnight

Overnight, institutional buying poured into UNH. By the market open, shares had already surged — climbing from $270 to over $309, a staggering 14% gain in a single session.

The reason? A perfect storm of Buffett’s endorsement, strong earnings sentiment, and algorithmic momentum trading amplifying the move.

For our WallStreetBettor, it was pure magic.

Those call options — which might have been worth pennies the day before — exploded in value. As UNH blasted past $300, the leverage of options turned a modest bet into a fortune.

By mid-morning, his $10,000 position was worth over $300,000.

The Aftermath: A Win for the Ages

He sold the majority of his position before the close, locking in around $280K in profit. A few hours later, the options expired — but he was already out.

On Reddit, he posted a simple screenshot: account balance before, account balance after. No bragging. No flexing. Just numbers that made the WSB community collectively lose its mind.

“Buffett’s 13F dropped. Saw the UNH add. Bought calls with 1 day left. Was ready to lose 10k. Woke up to this. Still shaking.”

The post quickly went viral, racking up thousands of upvotes and comments ranging from “This is why we can’t quit trading” to “I’ve never believed in God, but I believe in this man.”

Why This Trade Was So Insane

Let’s break down just how wild this was:

• Time to expiration: 1 day. Most options traders avoid OTM calls this close to expiry — the odds are brutally against you.

• Leverage: Options magnify gains. A 14% move in the stock can mean 10x, 20x, or even 30x returns on the right contract.

• Catalyst timing: The trader didn’t just guess — he connected the dots between Buffett’s filing and market psychology.

• Risk: Full loss was likely. But he sized it right — $10K he could afford to lose.

Lessons (and Warnings)

While this story sounds like a dream, it’s also a cautionary tale.

✅ Information is power — knowing where the smart money moves can give you an edge.
✅ Catalysts matter — earnings, filings, and news can move markets overnight.
❌ This is not a strategy — this was a high-risk, high-luck bet. Most similar trades end in total loss.
❌ Don’t bet the farm — leverage cuts both ways. One bad call can wipe you out.

Final Thoughts

In an era where retail investors are often dismissed as gamblers, this trade proves that with research, timing, and a bit of audacity, the little guy can win big even against the algorithms and hedge funds.

But let’s be real: turning $10K into $300K in a day on a one-day-out option is the financial equivalent of hitting the lottery. It’s exhilarating, unbelievable, and for most of us not repeatable.

Still, it’s moments like these that keep us glued to our screens, watching tickers, scanning filings, and dreaming of the next UNH.

Because in the markets, sometimes just sometimes the craziest bet pays off.

Check Out the original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/1mqzvf8/unh_30_baggasauris_10k300k/