Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History

The authoritative source on one of history's most notorious Ponzi schemes. fortune

The definitive, in-depth account of the spectacular rise and fall of Bernie Madoffand the greatest Ponzi scheme of all timefeaturing new, exclusive, never-before-published details from Madoff himself

No name is more synonymous with the evils of Wall Street than Bernie Madoff. Arrested for fraud in 2008during the depths of the global financial crisisthe 70-year-old market maker, investment advisor, and former chairman of the NASDAQ had orchestrated the largest Ponzi scheme in world history, fleecing thousands of investors across the globe to the tune of $65 billion. To this day, questions remain: why did he do it? how did he get away with it for so long? what did his family know? who is the elusive bernie madoff?

In madoff talks, author Jim Campbell presents the most comprehensive, insider account of the Madoff saga to date. Based on exclusive interviews with all the playersthe Madoff family and their associates, the Wall Street wheelers and dealers, the army of lawyers, analysts, and investigators, the victims of the scheme, and Bernie Madoff himselfthe book reveals:

• what motivated a respected financier to commit such a massive fraudand why he thought he could get away with it
• how Madoff managed to keep the scheme hidden in plain sightdespite numerous SEC investigations
• the shocking failures of Wall Street oversightand how it could happen again
• the true scale of the investment lossesand the victims ongoing fight for justice
• what Ruth Madoff and the rest of the family knewand how it shattered their lives

 madoff talks features the first, and likely only, interviews with Ruth Madoff and defense attorney Ira Sorkin, for which Bernie waived attorney-client privilege, as well as never-before-published details from the authors personal communications with Bernie Madoff in prison. A vivid, powerful piece of investigative reporting, the book takes us behind the headlines to show the full human cost of Madoffs crimes, and offers a cogent analysis of the reforms necessary to prevent it from happening again. 

Meticulously researched and relentlessly riveting, madoff talks is the full story of an American tragedy.