Red-handed

So, Bernie Madoff fessed up. Here’s the thing I find interesting: not only did he come up with a very elaborate plan, it was also a big plan. "Big" as in ballsy. Because basically it hinged on anyone who was considering investing with him and had any doubts thinking, “Nah, of course it can’t be a giant ponzi scheme. It looks like a giant ponzi scheme. But who would do that?”

And that’s the big question. Who would do that? Who is this guy? What would drive him to do something that appears to be so flagrantly financially depraved?

Most of his victims would say he’s pure evil. I guess that’s a possibility. Though I really prefer to save the “pure evil” designation for Hitler level atrocities. And there are some psychology terms that the masses have latched onto that could get thrown at him. Narcissistic personality disorder gets a lot of traction these days. And borderline personality disorder. Anti-social personality disorder. Lots of disorders.

Or it could just boil down to that he’s an arrogant asshole. Why did he do it? Because he could. He’s probably got a lifetime of staring down anyone who dares to question him. And if he’s also charming, very few people would think to question him. I think maybe he thought he could get away with until he died with the most toys. And so what if he left somebody else holding the bag?

Or he just thought he could figure it all out. Make it work. Find some way to get the cash to make everybody happy in the end. Smart people have thought themselves into very nasty corners before.

In the end, Bernie Madoff is the only one who could possibly really know why. And maybe not even him.