Sam Bankman-Fried: A Tale of Intrigue

The former luminary of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, once found himself toying with the intriguing prospect of extending a generous offer to Donald Trump, incentivizing him to abstain from throwing his hat into the United States presidential ring. This intriguing tidbit was unveiled by none other than Michael Lewis, the wordsmith behind the newly minted tome chronicling SBF's meteoric ascent and subsequent descent.

Michael Lewis, the maestro of "Boundless Pinnacle: The Saga of Emergence and Ebb of a Modern Maestro," regaled the audience with tales of the enigmatic crypto maestro and FTX originator during a riveting interview on 60 Minutes, which graced the screens on the hallowed night of October 1.

One of the riveting revelations in the annals of the book was SBF's musings on the possibility of recompensing Donald Trump for steering clear of the presidential race. Lewis intimated, "This revelation might jolt you if the enigma that is Sam eludes you," and proceeded to add, "Sam pondered whether financial enticement could dissuade Donald Trump from pursuing the grand office [...] What quantum of financial persuasion would suffice?"

The speculated figure bandied about was an astonishing $5 billion,

he noted, tossing in the intriguing tidbit that SBF was uncertain if this astronomical sum emanated directly from the lips of Donald Trump.

Expounding further, Lewis revealed that SBF delved into the labyrinthine legalities surrounding this proposition, disclosing that "conversations were still afoot even as FTX was grappling with a seismic setback."

Alas, this fascinating proposal never saw the light of day, primarily due to Bankman-Fried's lack of possession of the formidable $5 billion, as Lewis artfully elucidated.

lol what??

SBF was trying to pay Trump $5 billion not to run again. pic.twitter.com/ffbmfI3R9F

— Brad Michelson (@BradMichelson) October 2, 2023

Lewis shed light on how SBF perceived Trump as a potential underminer of democracy in the United States, affirming that he "ought to be considered within the ranks of the most pressing threats to our societal fabric."

Elucidating his sojourns to the Bahamas, Lewis recounted spending an impressive 70-plus days across a multitude of trips in 2022, forging a profound camaraderie with SBF. "I was graciously hosted in various abodes, even the opulent penthouse, courtesy of my host," he divulged to the WSJ.

Reflecting on the aftermath following the cataclysmic collapse of FTX in November 2022, Lewis painted a vivid picture akin to "the aftermath of Pompeii," portraying abandoned artifacts and garments seemingly frozen in the relentless march of time. He observed a flurry of departures to the airport, leaving behind company vehicles with keys nonchalantly resting inside, abandoned at the curb.

Efforts were diligently made to reach out to the legal representatives of Sam Bankman-Fried and Donald Trump. Mark Botnik, the point person for SBF's legal communication, conveyed that there were no official pronouncements from the esteemed legal team.

As per the meticulously orchestrated trial schedule unveiled just last week, the much-anticipated trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is slated to unfurl, with the solemnity of jury selection commencing on the auspicious date of October 3, paving the way for the commencement of the trial proceedings on the morrow of October 4.

The trial promises to be a dramatic spectacle, encapsulating a total of seven fraud cases levied against SBF, accompanied by two substantial charges where the prosecution is tasked with convincingly establishing Bankman-Fried's involvement in the alleged transgressions, and an additional five conspiracy charges that add an element of intrigue and complexity to the judicial affair.

Read more: Crypto Turbulence: September 2023