First published 2011
Bernie Madoff built his reputation as one of Wall Street's most trusted traders over decades. Behind this facade, he operated the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding investors of $65 billion. New York Times reporter Diana Henriques conducted Madoff's first interviews since his arrest and spoke with over one hundred people connected to the scandal. She traces Madoff's rise from respected financier to criminal mastermind, revealing how he swindled friends, family, and clients for years. The book documents the devastating aftermath of his crimes: suicides, destroyed families, failed businesses, and shuttered charities. Henriques draws from court filings, lawsuits, and government investigations to separate fact from speculation. She shows how Madoff's scheme accelerated toward collapse and examines the personal disasters that followed his downfall. The author offers clear lessons for regulators, investors, and the financial industry about preventing future fraud on this scale.
Genres: business, crime, non-fiction, 21st-century, finance, accounting
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, downfall
Setting: New York
Period: 21st-century
419 pages · Hardcover · Times Books
Content warnings: suicide