In the early nineties, we have a dynamic where their kind of being handed these assets that were nationalized and are now being privatized. They are able to kind of rise in power, especially by way of some of the media ownership that they have. Are in a spot where they kind of controlled the political landscape a little bit more than the political landscape that originally anointed them,. These oligarchs would kill anybody who stood against them.
Best-selling author Ben Mezrich has captured the attention of millions of readers with his true-life books about Facebook ("The Accidental Billionaires") and Las Vegas ("Bringing Down The House"). In this conversation with Dylan Lewis he revisits his 2015 book “Once Upon a Time in Russia” to talk about the rise of the oligarch and his experiences with Russia’s billionaire class. They discuss: - The history leading to the creation of Russia’s billionaire class - Potential ways oligarchs could affect Russian's war with Ukraine - Why Russia’s billionaires are closer to “The Sopranos” than the technology titans of Silicon Valley Books discussed: Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs - https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Russia-Oligarchs-ebook/dp/B00RM266ZM The Midnight Ride - https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Ride-Ben-Mezrich/dp/1538754630 Host: Dylan Lewis Guest: Ben Mezrich Engineer: Rick Engdahl
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