THE CASE BERNIE MADOFF Flashcards
Bernie Madoff
Period:
Founded in 1960; scheme exposed in December 2008.
Bernie Madoff Event
Madoff promised high, consistent returns to investors, claiming a unique trading strategy.
Bernie Madoff Cause
Operated a massive Ponzi scheme, using new investor money to pay returns to earlier investors. The scheme collapsed when the 2008 financial crisis led to a surge in withdrawal requests, revealing the lack of actual investments.
HOW MUCH MADOFF STOLE
AROUND 65 BILLION
Principles Ignored:
Promised high returns with low risk, misleading investors about the nature of investments. No real risk was managed, leading to unsustainable payouts.
Risk-Return Trade-Off:
Principles Ignored:
Focused on reported profits rather than actual cash flow. Investors failed to recognize that profits were illusions supported by new investor funds
Cash - Not Profit - Is King:
Principles Ignored:
Deceived clients for personal gain, violating trust and ethical standards. His actions resulted in massive financial and emotional harm to investors.
Ethical Behavior Is Doing the Right Thing: