Listen Now: Spellcaster - The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Oct 19, 2023
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Sam Bankman-Fried, a well-meaning billionaire turned con man? This podcast dives into the rise and fall of Sam, the world's richest 29-year-old, and his crypto exchange FTX. It explores his philanthropy efforts, downfall, and the question of who Sam really is.
Sam Bankman-Fried's rise to fame as a billionaire and philanthropist masked the underlying issues and trouble brewing behind his FTX empire.
The collapse of FTX and the disappearance of billions of dollars shed light on the true state of Sam Bankman-Fried's financial empire, leaving investors and regulators questioning his intentions and credibility.
Deep dives
The Rise of Sam Bankman-Freed
Sam Bankman-Freed, co-founder and CEO of FTX, emerged as a billionaire and influential figure in the crypto world. His achievements and philanthropic aspirations captivated audiences. Worth $26 billion, he promised to give away his wealth and make a global impact for good.
The Sam Show and its Downfall
Sam Bankman-Freed's popularity reached its peak with his appearances alongside celebrities like Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and former world leaders. FTX processed billions of dollars in transactions each day, but behind the scenes, trouble was brewing as competitors, regulators, and the media began to explore the truth of Sam's empire. Eventually, FTX faced bankruptcy, $8 billion went missing, and Sam found himself in legal trouble.
The Unraveling of a Cryptocurrency Myth
The downfall of Sam Bankman-Freed's FTX empire left investors, prosecutors, lawyers, and crypto enthusiasts grappling with the reality of what went wrong. Investigative reports and stories revealed the underlying issues, casting doubt on the grand promises and exposing the true state of Sam's financial empire.
When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world’s richest 29-year-old, he pledged to donate his billions to good causes. But when Sam's crypto exchange FTX collapsed, billions of dollars went missing, and Sam was in handcuffs, those who knew him were left wondering — who was Sam really? A well-meaning billionaire who made a mistake? Or a calculated con man? From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal, and what happens when “doing good” goes really, really, bad.
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