 The recurrence of the initials "DEI" in the movie is no accident.  The truck that is used to transport the popcorn to Dr. Hathaways  new house has "Drain Experts Inc." emblazoned on its side. The  company Chris interviews with at the beginning (and which funds Dr.  Hathaways show "Everything") is Darlington Electronic Instruments.  The initials are rumored to have been inscribed by Caltech alumni at  (among other places) the summit of Everest, on the Moon, and on many  satellites and space probes manufactured at Jet Propulsion Labs  (which sits just up the hill from Caltech in Pasadena). There has  long been an unofficial contest to see who could place the letters  DEI into the most prominent public view. Their placement in Real  Genius was with the full complicity of director Coolidge and her  Caltech advisor, Dave Marvit.