Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
scienceFeb 10, 201738:05pending

Radiolab Presents: Ponzi Supernova

Radiolab

About this episode

We thought we knew the story of Bernie Madoff.  How he masterminded the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, leaving behind scores of distraught investors and a $65 billion black hole. 

But we had never heard the story from Madoff himself.

This week, reporter Steve Fishman and former Radiolabber Ellen Horne visit our studio to play us snippets from their extraordinary Audible series Ponzi Supernova, which features exclusive footage of the man who bamboozled the world.  After years of investigative reporting – including interviews with dozens of FBI and SEC agents, investors, traders, and attorneys – the pair scrutinize Madoff’s account to understand exactly why he did it, how he managed to pull it off, and how culpable he actually was. Was he a puppetmaster or a puppet? And if the latter, who else is to blame for the biggest financial fraud in history?

You can hear the entire series on iTunes or for free on Audible

Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.    

Get every episode summarized

Each time Radiolab publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

Radiolab Presents: Ponzi Supernova

Radiolab

0:00
38:05

More episodes

More from Radiolab

View all episodes →