by Tom Wright
First published 2018
Jho Low appeared unremarkable when he graduated from Wharton in 2009. The pudgy Malaysian social climber had grand ambitions that far exceeded his modest background. Low devised a scheme of staggering audacity. He would drain billions from 1MDB, Malaysia's sovereign investment fund, with help from prestigious Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs. The money funded his extravagant lifestyle. Low bought luxury properties, threw lavish parties, and even financed Hollywood movies including The Wolf of Wall Street. Global financial watchdogs failed to detect the massive fraud unfolding before them. For nearly a decade, Low operated with impunity as he siphoned over five billion dollars. He used the stolen funds to influence elections and build a network of enablers across multiple continents. By 2019, authorities had seized his yacht and private jet. Low became an international fugitive facing criminal charges in Malaysia and the United States. The Department of Justice investigation continued as Low remained at large, leaving behind one of history's most brazen financial crimes.
Genres: business, crime, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, international-intrigue
Setting: Malaysia, United States, Wall Street
Period: 2009, 2019
400 pages · Kindle Edition · Grand Central Publishing