{"product_id":"need-and-greed-the-story-of-the-largest-ponzi-scheme-in-american-history-9780815606109","title":"Need and Greed: The Story of the Largest Ponzi Scheme in American History","description":"\u003cp\u003eMore than just a tale of manipulated financial statements, counterfeit securities, sham transactions, and cyber fraud, this story is intertwined with personalities from among the rich and famous who were involved, in some fashion, such as Governor George Pataki, actress Debbie Reynolds, attorney F. Lee Bailey, and the former chairman of the SEC. In the largest pyramid scheme in American history, the Bennett Companies which even looted their own employee's pension fund, fleeced more than 12,000 investors, 10,000 trade creditors, and 245 banks and financial institutions, of more than $1 billion. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA Ponzi scheme-named for Charles Ponzi, who enticed investors with promises of high returns to purchase worthless coupons in the 1920s- was taken to new heights in the 1990s by the Bennett Companies. Extensively documented, \u003ci\u003eNeed and Greed\u003c\/i\u003e follows the human drama as a small-time scam grows exponentially into nationwide holdings of hotels, floating and fixed casinos, office buildings, shopping malls, and other investments.\u003cbr\u003eIt also allows the reader a rare view into the inner workings of big-time crime, its prosecution, and subsequent civil litigation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThroughout the book, Weisman includes vignettes about hapless investors, portraits of the Bennetts and other key players, the corporate culture at Bennett Funding, and the trappings of the lush Bennett lifestyle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Stewart L. Weisman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Syracuse University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/01\/1999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 392\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.32h x 6.30w x 1.37d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780815606109\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/1999 pg. 98","brand":"Syracuse University Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":40183717625971,"sku":"9.78E+12","price":19.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_c3f68478-ad9b-4a74-a8b9-06bbc371d14f.jpg?v=1655558811","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/en-de\/products\/need-and-greed-the-story-of-the-largest-ponzi-scheme-in-american-history-9780815606109","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}