Crazy Eddie, The Rise and Fall of a Retail Fraudster

The Crazy Eddie stores of the 1980s are probably most remembered by the Jerry Carrell commercials that have been parodied in the movies, TV shows, and even by other CEOs in the past such as Steve Ballmer.

Gary Weiss is the author of Retail Gangster, The Insane, Real-Life Story of Crazy Eddie. Through Gary's research and captivating narrative, we learn the origin story of Eddie Antar and how he first started various skimming schemes to both undercut competitors and stash untaxed sales and profits in bed mattresses and overseas bank accounts.

We also learn about one of the masterminds of Crazy Eddie's IPO and the fraud that was required to support a high stock price following the public offering. Finally, we hear about how the house of cards crumbled and the family's failed attempt to take the company private in order to hide their misdoings.

Mark's Notes on Retail Gangster