Hitmen Subcontractors

A hitman in China named Xi Guang-An accepted payment to murder someone. He then instead subcontracted the task to Mo Tian-Xiang, who then instead subcontracted the task to Yang Kang-Sheng, who then instead subcontracted the task to Yang Guang-Sheng, who then instead subcontracted the task to Ling Xian-Si, with each subsequently enlisted hitman receiving a smaller percentage of the fee. Nobody actually ended up actually performing the murder. They were awarded the 2020 Ig Nobel Prize for Management.