By Nathan Weiss
Source: Louis Lanzano/AP
On April 14, news broke that Bernie Madoff had passed away to natural causes. While serving his 150 year prison sentence for his infamous ponzi scheme, the notorious fraud died at the age of 82.
Throughout the course of his ponzi scheme, Madoff actively lied to and stole from the “rich, poor, and all in between,” according to former investor Tom Fitzmaurice. Of the thousands of his clients, notable names included Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, famous director Steven Spielberg, and many others, all of whom he actively stole from with the front of a financial advisor.
Like all schemes of this sort, they are all doomed to inevitably fail, which was no different from Madoff’s. After a 17 year run of lying and stealing from his clients, Bernie Madoff was caught in December 2008, where he was charged with fraud, money laundering, and theft, among other charges.
When the truth of Madoff’s ponzi scheme was brought to light, the public was furious, causing him to become so hated that he felt it was necessary to wear a bulletproof vest to court. As we look back on the life of Bernie Madoff, it is important that we reflect upon his death in prison to remind the world of the fate which usually meets those who follow his path.
