Behind the Bastards

Part One: The King of Con Artists, Victor Lustig

Mar 30, 2021
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ANECDOTE

Lustig's "Epiphany"

  • Victor Lustig, upon seeing a prostitute and client leave a meal untouched, lost faith in women.
  • He decided that the wealthy didn't deserve their money and vowed to steal from them.
ANECDOTE

The Dueling Scar

  • While working as a card shark in Paris, Victor Lustig was slashed in the face after flirting with a sailor's girlfriend.
  • He later claimed the scar was from a duel, turning a negative into a mark of aristocratic distinction.
ANECDOTE

Transatlantic Cons

  • Instead of directly moving to the US, Lustig booked passages on first-class cruise ships.
  • He recognized the bored, wealthy passengers as easy targets for his scams.
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