diff --git a/components/proof/ProofLedger.test.tsx b/components/proof/ProofLedger.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba89fc35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/proof/ProofLedger.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+/* @vitest-environment jsdom */
+
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import "@testing-library/jest-dom/vitest";
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import React from "react";
+
+import { ProofLedger } from "./ProofLedger";
+import type { BuyerProofLedger } from "@/lib/proof-ledger/buyer-proof-ledger";
+
+/**
+ * ProofLedger honesty contract (readiness copy at proof_events=0).
+ *
+ * At proof_events=0 the buyer has recovered no real dollar yet, so the header
+ * MUST read as future/readiness ("will land here") + carry a DOM-measurable
+ * Sample marker. The present-tense "we win back ... lands here" claim is only
+ * honest once real proof_events exist. This guards against the recovered-as-fact
+ * overclaim (FTC 5 / substantiation) the honesty gate forbids while proof=0.
+ */
+
+function makeLedger(proofEvents: number): BuyerProofLedger {
+  return {
+    tenant_id: "tenant-1",
+    owner_approval_policy: {
+      owner_approval_required: true,
+      outbound_requires_owner_approval: true,
+      no_automatic_customer_contact: true,
+    },
+    recovery_numbers_basis: "projected",
+    billing_live: false,
+    totals: {
+      proof_events: proofEvents,
+      outcome_receipts: 0,
+      pending_receipts: 0,
+      wins: 0,
+      verified_wins: 0,
+      projected_recovery_cents: 0,
+      verified_projected_recovery_cents: 0,
+      blocked_events: 0,
+    },
+    sources: {
+      supabase: { status: "ok" },
+      pulse_blocked_events: { status: "not_configured" },
+    },
+    proof_events: Array.from({ length: proofEvents }, (_, i) => ({
+      id: `event-${i}`,
+      event_type: "approved",
+      recovery_item_id: null,
+      opportunity_id: null,
+      projected_value_cents: 0,
+      recovery_numbers_basis: "projected" as const,
+      owner_approved: true,
+      outcome_basis: "owner_attested" as const,
+      created_at: "2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    })),
+    outcome_receipts: [],
+    blocked_events: [],
+  };
+}
+
+function stubFetchWith(ledger: BuyerProofLedger) {
+  vi.stubGlobal(
+    "fetch",
+    vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, json: async () => ledger }),
+  );
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+});
+
+describe("ProofLedger - SAMPLE state (zero proof_events)", () => {
+  it("renders readiness (future-tense) copy, not the present-tense recovered claim", async () => {
+    stubFetchWith(makeLedger(0));
+    const { container } = render(<ProofLedger />);
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(container.querySelector('[data-proof-state]')).not.toBeNull(),
+    );
+
+    // Future/readiness tense is honest at proof=0: money "will land here".
+    expect(screen.getByText(/will land here/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // The recovered-as-fact overclaim must be absent while proof_events=0.
+    expect(container.textContent ?? "").not.toMatch(/we win back[^.]*lands here/i);
+  });
+
+  it("carries a DOM-measurable Sample marker for the honesty check", async () => {
+    stubFetchWith(makeLedger(0));
+    const { container } = render(<ProofLedger />);
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        container.querySelector('[data-proof-state="sample"]'),
+      ).not.toBeNull(),
+    );
+    // A human-visible Sample chip too (not only a hidden attribute).
+    expect(screen.getByText(/^Sample$/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("ProofLedger - LIVE state (real proof_events)", () => {
+  it("shows the present-tense recovered-revenue copy once proof_events exist", async () => {
+    stubFetchWith(makeLedger(1));
+    const { container } = render(<ProofLedger />);
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        container.querySelector('[data-proof-state="live"]'),
+      ).not.toBeNull(),
+    );
+
+    // Present tense is earned once there is a real recovered dollar.
+    expect(container.textContent ?? "").toMatch(/we win back[^.]*lands here/i);
+    // And the readiness hedge / Sample chip must be gone.
+    expect(container.textContent ?? "").not.toMatch(/will land here/i);
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/^Sample$/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/components/proof/ProofLedger.tsx b/components/proof/ProofLedger.tsx
index e7a64670..d1891af1 100644
--- a/components/proof/ProofLedger.tsx
+++ b/components/proof/ProofLedger.tsx
@@ -86,16 +86,38 @@ export function ProofLedger() {
 
   if (state === "error") return null; // fail quiet; the rest of the page stands alone
 
+  // Honesty gate: the present-tense "lands here" claim asserts we ARE recovering
+  // dollars. That is only true once a real proof_event exists (First Light). At
+  // proof_events=0 (loading, empty, or Sample) we hedge to future tense and mark
+  // the surface as a Sample so a DOM/regex honesty check can assert readiness.
+  const hasRealProof = state === "ready" && !!ledger && ledger.totals.proof_events > 0;
+
   return (
-    <section className="rounded-2xl border border-[var(--overlay-soft)] bg-[var(--overlay-subtle)] p-5 md:p-6">
+    <section
+      data-proof-state={hasRealProof ? "live" : "sample"}
+      className="rounded-2xl border border-[var(--overlay-soft)] bg-[var(--overlay-subtle)] p-5 md:p-6"
+    >
       <div className="mb-4 flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
         <div className="flex items-start gap-2">
           <Receipt size={18} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-amber-400" aria-hidden />
           <div>
-            <h2 className="text-base font-bold text-stone-100">Your recovered-revenue record</h2>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <h2 className="text-base font-bold text-stone-100">Your recovered-revenue record</h2>
+              {!hasRealProof ? (
+                <span
+                  data-proof-state-chip="sample"
+                  aria-label="Sample state, pending your first recovered result"
+                  title="Sample: pending your first recovered result"
+                  className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center rounded-full border border-[var(--overlay-soft)] bg-[var(--overlay-subtle)] px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-stone-400"
+                >
+                  Sample
+                </span>
+              ) : null}
+            </div>
             <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-stone-400">
-              Every dollar we win back lands here, owner-approved and timestamped. Yours to keep,
-              export, and show your accountant. A record no CRM can hand you.
+              {hasRealProof
+                ? "Every dollar we win back lands here, owner-approved and timestamped. Yours to keep, export, and show your accountant. A record no CRM can hand you."
+                : "Every dollar we win back will land here, owner-approved and timestamped. Yours to keep, export, and show your accountant. A record no CRM can hand you."}
             </p>
           </div>
         </div>