Who is Michael Lewis? Sam Bankman-Fried author reveals disgraced FTX owner's biggest fear as he faces up to 115 years in prison
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Michael Keith Lewis, who is a renowned author and financial journalist, spent two years interviewing the disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried for his book, 'Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of New Tycoon'.
In the wake of Bankman-Fried's conviction, Lewis claims that life in prison is the least of the 31-year-old's concerns.
The New York Times bestselling author hinted that while the response may seem "crazy" to some, it is expected to those who have followed the dramatic trial that left Bankman-Fried facing up to 115 years in prison.
He was recently found guilty of embezzling around $10 billion from his clients in what the prosecutor called "one of the biggest financial frauds in American history."
Michael Lewis' career as an author and financial journalist
Michael Lewis was born and raised in New Orleans, and he still has a strong connection to the city. He graduated from Princeton with a bachelor's degree in art history and from the London School of Economics with a master's degree in economics.
As per his official website, Lewis contributes to Amazon's Audible as a writer and writes a piece for 'Bloomberg View.'
Moreover, Lewis' writings have appeared in publications like The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Slate, Gourmet, Foreign Affairs, Sports Illustrated, and Poetry Magazine.
He is the author of several New York Times bestseller books on an array of topics, with the most recent publications being 'Flash Boys', 'The Big Short', 'The Premonition', 'The Fifth Risk', and 'Going Infinite.'
In the past, he worked as a senior editor and campaign writer for The New Republic as well as an editor and columnist for the British weekly, The Spectator.
Lewis also narrated and filmed short segments for ABC-TV's 'Nightline', and produced and presented a four-part documentary for the BBC on the social implications of the Internet.
Michael Lewis tells the tale of the dramatic rise and fall of FTX and its enigmatic founder
Sam Bankman-Fried was the youngest billionaire in the world and the Gatsby of cryptocurrency when Lewis first met him.
Leaders of minor countries, CEOs, and celebrities fought for his time and money as he unexpectedly shot to the top of Forbes' billionaire list.
In 'Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of New Tycoon', Michael Lewis attempts to provide an explanation of the thoughts of Bankman-Fried, whose ascent and decline provide a lesson in high-frequency trading, cryptocurrency, philanthropy, bankruptcy, and the legal system.
What is Sam Bankman-Fried's biggest fear?
Michael Lewis recently made an appearance on CBS's '60 Minutes' to talk about his book 'Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of New Tycoon' and the mental state of Sam Bankman-Fried prior to the trial.
When Jon Wertheim asked, "What is the 31-year-old's greatest fear regarding prison?" to Lewis, he simply remarked, "Not having the internet," as per Daily Mail.
"Now that sounds crazy, but I do think that if he had the internet, he could survive jail forever," mentioned the author, adding, "Without having a constant stream of information to react to – I think he may go mad."
Lewis continued that if Bankman-Fried had the option of residing in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn with internet access or at his $39 million penthouse in the Bahamas without it, "There's no question in my mind he'd take the jail."
After a jury in Manhattan federal court deliberated for less than five hours on Thursday, November 2, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts and could face up to 115 years in prison.
The decision was made under a year after FTX abruptly filed for bankruptcy, shocking the financial world and wiping off his estimated $26 billion personal wealth.
Bankman-Fried, who is scheduled to be sentenced in March of 2024, might soon face a second trial focused on alleged bribery, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations.