[Arkinsaw]

Well I hope you never have something of great value and lose it, either by misfortune or stupidity.

I support four people on one modest income in a state where my employer is about the only place where I can be employed in my career choice. So I am, each day, at risk of losing a lot. Far less than $500,000...but everything to the four people I feed.

He should be glad he did not lose his $500,000 and has it in the bank. There are a lot sadder stories than his this Christmas.

[DB]

Well I'll definitely agree that there are far worse events happening this Christmas than this. I think that “$500,000” remaining is just a guess though. No one knows what if anything they'll get back from Madoff’s ponzy scheme. There may be some Federal SEC insurance involved that covers up to $250,000 if I remember correctly - assuming the fees were paid...

My only real point is we shouldn't be so gleeful when the “wealthy” fall. And just perhaps we should be a little sympathetic for those who actually earned their wealth crash and burn and that tomorrow it may be "us" and not “them”.

Merry Christmas.