Big Investor: “So Bernie, are you going to pay us back?”
Madoff: “I can’t! I’m broke!”
Big Investor: “Is that a picture of your family? Nice family!”
So are you implying that perhaps Madoff’s death was the result of foul play or pressure due to people threatening his life?
Even if you aren’t, it is an angle to think about here. A lot of people lost a lot of money by Madoff. I wouldn’t put it past them to make life miserable for some of the family.
Thank you! I am surprised it took that long for that connection to be made.
While it is VERY possible the son took his own life due to whatever personal demons/travails/fears/realities etc that were weighing down on his dome, there is also a VERY real possibility that some gents who were not too pleased with daddy-dearest paid him a visit. Hanging oneself with a dog collar, on the anniversary of the day of discovery? Again, very possible that it is a straight up simple suicide (and the cops stated it was so), but it could also be very possible that it was something more nefarious (and it is not hard to make something look like a suicide, ranging from something that even forensics couldn't tell apart from a real suicide, to one of those crazy Eastern European suicides where someone shoots themselves several times in the back of the noggin' before deciding to chop themselves up for good measure - all suicides).
Again, this may very well be what the police officers state it was. However, if I was a member of the Madoff family I would have been quite concerned about some of the alleged characters that Madoff managed money for. I have worked in fund management, and I know there are some types that are best not screwed (losing money is one thing, screwing them is another thing). To such characters (the alleged connection to some Mafiya -Russian Mafia - types), you have to add to the Madoff troubles 'normal' (as in non criminal wealth) wealthy folk who nonetheless were not exactly enthused by Madoff's disappearing tricks.
Bottomline - while this was probably (?) a suicide, there is definitely a baker's dozen of individuals (most probably more) who have the motivation to see old man Madoff suffer pain and loss, and who have the means to bring this about. Hanging a son with a dog's leash is one way to bring that about.
Looking at the amount of money Madoff was managing, there is no way you can have such quanta of funds without some of the investors being the type of people one really should not muck about with, to put it mildly. It is like a swimming pool versus a large pond vs a small lake vs the ocean ...the larger the body of water the more likely it is to have predators, and in the same vein, the larger the body of water the more likely it is that THOSE predators will be larger and more capable of being an existential threat to a lifeform larger than a minnow. His fund size was large, hence he must have had everything from simple Pikes all the way to Makos and Giant Squid. Even if this is not a hit you can rest assured that sooner or later someone will come with a message for Madoff delivered through his family. This is why integrity is very important in Finance ...it is not just for the Fund and investors, it is also important for your OWN wellbeing (and I do not just mean peace of mind). Mess with the wrong set of people, or with someone with nothing to lose, and it may not be the healthiest of occupations. Particularly in this case, when the victims mostly believe that the sons also knew of the scam (which, in my opinion, is a correct assumption ....no way the whole operation was a one-person gig). Thus, in their eyes, the sons are as guilty as their father. Which is not safe for them at all. Was this a suicide? Well, yes ....it's just I would bet it was an 'assisted' suicide, and not just that but also a message. Also note that this is not the first interesting death...the first 'interesting' death was that of a chap called Jeffrey Picower who was found dead at the bottom of his pool. I'm sure he must have temporarily forgotten how to swim. Then there is some European aristrocrat who slit his wrists in a bathtub (although that one may be a legit suicide).
As an aside, Madoff is probably fortunate he is in prison. As for his family - I hope they remain cognizant of their safety and security.
Thank you! I am surprised it took that long for that connection to be made.
While it is VERY possible the son took his own life due to whatever personal demons/travails/fears/realities etc that were weighing down on his dome, there is also a VERY real possibility that some gents who were not too pleased with daddy-dearest paid him a visit. Hanging oneself with a dog collar, on the anniversary of the day of discovery? Again, very possible that it is a straight up simple suicide (and the cops stated it was so), but it could also be very possible that it was something more nefarious (and it is not hard to make something look like a suicide, ranging from something that even forensics couldn't tell apart from a real suicide, to one of those crazy Eastern European suicides where someone shoots themselves several times in the back of the noggin' before deciding to chop themselves up for good measure - all suicides).
Again, this may very well be what the police officers state it was. However, if I was a member of the Madoff family I would have been quite concerned about some of the alleged characters that Madoff managed money for. I have worked in fund management, and I know there are some types that are best not screwed (losing money is one thing, screwing them is another thing). To such characters (the alleged connection to some Mafiya -Russian Mafia - types), you have to add to the Madoff troubles 'normal' (as in non criminal wealth) wealthy folk who nonetheless were not exactly enthused by Madoff's disappearing tricks.
Bottomline - while this was probably (?) a suicide, there is definitely a baker's dozen of individuals (most probably more) who have the motivation to see old man Madoff suffer pain and loss, and who have the means to bring this about. Hanging a son with a dog's leash is one way to bring that about.
Looking at the amount of money Madoff was managing, there is no way you can have such quanta of funds without some of the investors being the type of people one really should not muck about with, to put it mildly. It is like a swimming pool versus a large pond vs a small lake vs the ocean ...the larger the body of water the more likely it is to have predators, and in the same vein, the larger the body of water the more likely it is that THOSE predators will be larger and more capable of being an existential threat to a lifeform larger than a minnow. His fund size was large, hence he must have had everything from simple Pikes all the way to Makos and Giant Squid. Even if this is not a hit you can rest assured that sooner or later someone will come with a message for Madoff delivered through his family. This is why integrity is very important in Finance ...it is not just for the Fund and investors, it is also important for your OWN wellbeing (and I do not just mean peace of mind). Mess with the wrong set of people, or with someone with nothing to lose, and it may not be the healthiest of occupations. Particularly in this case, when the victims mostly believe that the sons also knew of the scam (which, in my opinion, is a correct assumption ....no way the whole operation was a one-person gig). Thus, in their eyes, the sons are as guilty as their father. Which is not safe for them at all. Was this a suicide? Well, yes ....it's just I would bet it was an 'assisted' suicide, and not just that but also a message. Also note that this is not the first interesting death...the first 'interesting' death was that of a chap called Jeffrey Picower who was found dead at the bottom of his pool. I'm sure he must have temporarily forgotten how to swim. Then there is some European aristrocrat who slit his wrists in a bathtub (although that one may be a legit suicide).
As an aside, Madoff is probably fortunate he is in prison. As for his family - I hope they remain cognizant of their safety and security.