Madoff

The Final Word

By: Richard Behar

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell, Bernie Madoff

Fifteen years after Bernie Madoff’s arrest, renowned investigative journalist Richard Behar delivers the definitive account of history’s largest, longest-running financial fraud—featuring audio excerpts from archival interviews with Bernie Madoff from prison.

Some $68 billion evaporated during Bernie Madoff’s epic confidence game. Two people were driven to suicide in the wake of the Ponzi Scheme’s exposure. Others went to prison. But there has never been a satisfying accounting for how Bernie got away with so much, for so long. Until now.

Richard Behar’s relationship with Madoff began in 2011 with a simple email request from the inmate. By the time Madoff died in 2021, he had sent Behar more than 300 emails and dozens of handwritten letters, participated in some fifty phone conversations, and sat for three in-person jailhouse interviews—a level of access provided to no other reporter. Behar also established relationships with hundreds of regulators, prosecutors, FBI agents, investors, Wall Street experts, ex-employees of Madoff’s, family members, school classmates, and others.

The result is the final word on the criminal behind history’s most enduring fraud—and on those who believed him, covered for him, or locked him up. Behar illuminates not only the fraud’s origins—decades earlier than Madoff claimed in his confession—but also the complicity of investors, Wall Street insiders, family members, and some of the largest banks in the US and Europe.

Shocking, infuriating, riveting (and at times absurdly funny), Madoff shows us how Bernie ensnared thousands of investors. As Behar’s dogged reporting over the last fifteen years makes clear, however, there aren’t many innocents left standing by the end of this tale. Just about everyone involved is guilty, at a minimum, of humanity’s most consistent weakness: greed.

©2024 Richard Behar (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Fascinating

Fascinating with great details. I couldn’t stop listening. Easy to listen to. I especially liked the ending.

Great additional info on this man.

Well written and organized to help understand (as much as we can) about how the scheme happened. Well worth the listen.

Spectacularly written, honest, and through

This project is about as through and definitive as one could hope for. Incredibly intriguing and honest look into the life one of the most complex fraudulent human beings in human history. I highly recommend this work as a must read.

Thoroughly debunked madoff lie that ponzi started in 90s

Very good research - methodically reveals that Bernie lied until the day he died. The interviews themselves are too credulous (partly strategic to keep him talking, I’m sure). But overall definitely added to my understanding of madoff.

Good book

Lots of information. My one complaint is I didn’t get this book to hear about someone’s opinion on Trump. Trumps got issues but I didn’t buy this to book to hear about him.

99% solid

Pretty good until he starts talking about Trump at the very end. Silly and completely unnecessary.

The amount of nothingness. May have been better had I not known so much about the story before listening.

Disappointed that author took the story of Madoff to advertise his political beliefs. Not sure why Trump needed to be the focus at the end. Pretty sure psychopath would describe most politicians, but found the Trump shots distracting and unnecessary.

Nothing new here

A lot of rehashing what was covered in prior articles and the movie and miniseries- the parts about the 4 horsemen would have been interesting if it didn’t drag on so long repetitively and be generally unsubstantiated. Don’t know why the author felt the desire to publish this so long after the events as it is just more of the same.

Behar Goes Deep

Hearing Bernie Madoff’s own words, along with Behar’s depth of research, makes this book on the Madoff Ponzi a must read and listen.

Incredible

I have read and watched everything there is about Bernie Madoff. This is by far and away what it claims to be: the final word. Knocks down a ton of the myths that have been perpetuated, is meticulously researched, and asks every question I ever wanted answered. Bravo to Mr. Behar for what must have felt like an endless ordeal. The audio version including actual prison phone calls with Madoff is the icing on the cake. If Madoff case has fascinated you the way that it has me for nearly 20 years, you will absolutely love this audiobook.