Unveiling the Scheme
In a twist that sounds like it was plucked straight from a satirical novel, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) once pondered the audacious idea of paying Donald Trump not to run for president. As revealed by author Michael Lewis during a recent 60 Minutes interview, this was just one of the many eyebrow-raising elements featured in Lewis’s new book, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.
How Much Would It Take?
Lewis recollected that the figure bandied about for this strange proposition was an eye-watering $5 billion. Imagine sitting at a table debating whether a former reality TV star and business mogul could be coaxed out of political ambition for that amount. According to Lewis, SBF was even diving into the legality of this bizarre transaction—and all of this was happening while the foundations of his crypto empire crumbled beneath him!
Why Trump?
Why would SBF want to fund a political non-campaign? Lewis explains that SBF viewed Trump as a significant threat to democracy in the U.S., considering him among the existential risks the nation faces. It seems that even the most eccentric billionaires can’t avoid political anxiety.
The Collapse of FTX: A Dramatic Backdrop
As if the thought of paying off Trump wasn’t surreal enough, Lewis shared some vivid imagery from the fallout of FTX’s collapse in November 2022. He likened it to Pompeii—people fleeing, belongings left in disarray, as if everyone just vanished into thin air. “It was like the aftermath of Pompeii,” said Lewis, capturing the chaos and confusion that enveloped the FTX world.
The Upcoming Trial Awaits
Now, as SBF stands on the precipice of a highly publicized trial set to commence on October 3, the drama continues. With seven fraud cases and two substantive charges lined up against him, he won’t just be battling the ghosts of his past decisions but also the weight of accusations that could redefine his legacy.
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