Bernie Madoff’s Arrest Anniversary and His Underpants

by Fred Fuld III

The big day is coming up. On December 11, 2018, it will be the ten year anniversary of Bernard Madoff’s arrest for operating the largest Ponzi Scheme in the history of the world. The swindle amounted to around $65 billion including fabricated gains, with thousands of investors being conned.

Many jokes have been made about Bernie Madoff. (He Madoff with your money.)

Numerous books have been written about him, such as The Wizard of Lies, Too Good to be True, and Betrayal. The book Bernard Madoff and His Accomplices: Anatomy of a Con goes into detail about how he worked with his network of accomplices.

Even a TV movie was made about Madoff, and it was called, what else, Madoff. It starred Richard Dreyfuss as the notorious con man.

Madoff stock confirmation

Madoff collectibles  have become hot since his arrest and are still in demand today. Would you believe that in 2010, when his Manhattan penthouse and a Long Island beach house was confiscated by the Federal government, an auction was held with all the contents, including used socks, black velveteen slippers, luggage, T-shirts, and of course, his underpants (he wore boxers, not briefs).

What would the successful buyer do with these pants? I’m trying to get to the bottom of this. I imagine that the buyer would be the butt of many jokes, and would take a lot of ribbing from a smart ass.

 

Investment Books that Would Make Great Gifts

Holiday shopping has already started, and if you are like me, you like to get your shopping done ahead of time. I have already done most of mine. One of the best gifts you can make is a book, since it lasts forever and gives your recipient something to do when they are taking vacation days.

Here is a selection of books that may be of interest. Please note, the first two books on the list I would consider to be R rated. They wouldn’t make a good gift for someone who is offended by sex or drugs.

Investment Scams

The Wolf of Wall Street

Catching the Wolf of Wall Street: More Incredible True Stories of Fortunes, Schemes, Parties, and Prison

The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust

The End of Normal: A Wife’s Anguish, A Widow’s New Life

No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller (one of my favorites, about Bernie Madoff)

Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff

Books about Warren Buffett

Trade Like Warren Buffett 

How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett: Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World’s Greatest Value Investor

The Buffettology Workbook: Value Investing The Warren Buffett Way

J. K. Lasser’s Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett Portfolio: Mastering the Power of the Focus Investment Strategy

Books by Ken Fisher

Markets Never Forget (But People Do): How Your Memory Is Costing You Money-and Why This Time Isn’t Different

The Only Three Questions That Still Count: Investing By Knowing What Others Don’t

The Ten Roads to Riches: The Way the Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!) (one of my favorites)

Books by James Altucher

Choose Yourself!

I Was Blind But Now I See: Time to Be Happy

Trade Like a Hedge Fund: 20 Successful Uncorrelated Strategies & Techniques to Winning Profits 

Books by Tim Ferriss

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated) (one of my favorites)

The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life

The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Jim Cramer’s Books

Jim Cramer’s Getting Back to Even

Jim Cramer’s Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World

Jim Cramer’s Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)

Jim Cramer’s Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich

Confessions of a Street Addict (one of my favorites)

You Got Screwed! Why Wall Street Tanked and How You Can Prosper


Other Great Investment Books:

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Stock Trader’s Almanac 2017 (this series is one of my favorites, every trader and investor should have this)

One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

Stock Market Trivia: Includes a Special Section on the Weird Words of Wall Street