In a timeline where someone can pay for gas with a picture of John Pork and call it art, “I Have Nothing” has become the internet’s most absurd yet telling catchphrase.
It started on TikTok in 2024 when @tomthetroll_ decided to test the limits of a cashier’s patience at a 7/11.
@tomthetroll_ profit easy penny #troll #trolling #trolls #trolled #troller #ihavenothing #711 #seveneleven #bruh ♬ original sound – ThomTheTroll
The grand stunt? Offer a penny, then declare “I have nothing!” when asked for actual money.
Somewhere between cringe and performance art, the “I Have Nothing” meme took on a life of its own.
What began as a single prank spiralled into a series. Same setup, same payoff, different location.
Gas stations, corner shops, even the odd run-in with police officers for maximum discomfort.
The Meme’s Backstory and Backlash
Let’s keep it honest. There’s nothing noble about yelling “I have nothing!” at retail workers just trying to get through a shift.
Yet there’s a reason it stuck. It sits right in the sweet spot of Gen Z’s love for chaos, pranks, and mocking the absurdity of modern hustle culture while contributing to it at the same time.
Scroll TikTok long enough and you’ll find countless remixes of this prank under hashtags like “I Have Nothing TikTok”or “I Have Nothing meme.”
One clip shows DomTheTroll pulling out pieces of paper with memes printed on them instead of cash.
Another shows pranksters offering single pennies like they’re rare Pokémon cards. It’s juvenile, irritating and for many, hilarious.
The Meaning, If You Squint
i have nothing
byu/Sanjay_KC inmemes
So, what does it all mean? If you search “I Have Nothing meme meaning,” you’ll tumble into a rabbit hole of Reddit threads, Know Your Meme pages, and short-lived explainers.
Here’s the simplest version. It’s prank culture pushed to the extreme, mocking how we perform having and not having for an audience that’s in on the joke but sometimes also the butt of it.
Some see it as a cheeky commentary on how broke life can feel.
Others think it’s just more content fodder, meaningless, viral and gone tomorrow.
In a sense, the “I Have Nothing prank explained” is just that. It’s both something and nothing, an accidental protest against the constant push to show off having it all.
A Microcosm of Digital Chaos
What gives the “I Have Nothing” meme its legs is that it’s easy to copy, easy to dislike and even easier to share.
It doesn’t require clever editing or expensive props. Just a phone, a penny and the nerve to test a stranger’s patience.
It’s do-it-yourself rebellion for the price of a single coin.
But before you get inspired to do your own version, here’s a reality check.
Messing with underpaid cashiers won’t make you the next DomTheTroll.
In fact, it might just make you look like, well, a troll. So if you’re tempted to try your own “I Have Nothing!” stunt, maybe reconsider. Or at least buy something first.
A Final Note: Do Your Homework
Like all memes that flirt with real life consequences, this one’s a reminder that the line between harmless fun and public nuisance is thin.
This article is based on cultural commentary only, and it’s not an invitation to start pranking the next gas station you see.
Always do your own research and use your best judgement before you copy what you see on TikTok.
In the meantime, if someone tries to pay you with a meme, remember they probably have nothing except for your attention.
And that’s worth more than a penny depending on your algorithm.