Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who is the subject of Michael Lewis’ new book “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon,” once explored the idea of paying Donald Trump to not run for the US presidency, according to Lewis. In an interview on “60 Minutes” on October 1, Lewis revealed this interesting tidbit about the former crypto billionaire.
Lewis shared that Bankman-Fried’s consideration of paying Trump not to run for president should not come as a surprise to those who know him well. The amount that was reportedly being discussed was a staggering $5 billion, although it is unclear if this figure originated from Trump himself. Lewis added that Bankman-Fried was also looking into the legality of such a payment. However, this plan never materialized because Bankman-Fried no longer had access to the required $5 billion.
Lewis further elaborated that Bankman-Fried viewed Trump as a threat to US democracy and believed that he posed an existential risk. Lewis spent over 70 days in the Bahamas, visiting Bankman-Fried on multiple occasions in 2022, and the two formed a close bond. During his stay, Lewis had access to various areas of Bankman-Fried’s residence, including the penthouse.
The collapse of FTX in November 2022 left an aftermath reminiscent of Pompeii, according to Lewis. Clothes and personal belongings were left abandoned, frozen in time. Many employees quickly left for the airport, leaving behind company cars with the keys still inside.
Cointelegraph reached out to the legal representatives of Sam Bankman-Fried and Donald Trump for comment. Mark Botnik, the spokesperson for the SBF case, indicated that there would be no comment from their legal team at this time.
In related news, the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is set to begin on October 3, with jury selection taking place. The trial will involve seven fraud cases against Bankman-Fried, including two substantive charges and five conspiracy charges. Crypto lawyers have been weighing in on the potential outcome and the length of Bankman-Fried’s jail sentence.
The intriguing revelations about Bankman-Fried’s attempt to pay Trump not to run for president and the subsequent downfall of FTX have sparked significant interest. Lewis’ book sheds light on the rise and fall of a prominent figure in the crypto world, offering readers a deeper understanding of the motivations and actions behind Bankman-Fried’s business ventures.
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