The spotlight on Harry Markopolos, the whistleblower who was ignored regarding the Madoff fraud, is about to shine as brightly as a supernova. As the gushing press and blogosphere begin their lionization of the brilliant and intrepid math whiz who saw through the deception, I thought it might be a good time to assemble a list of the following little-known “facts” from around the Internet about the man who could have been a hero.
Fact 1: Although Markopolos spent much of his career in Boston, he thankfully has managed to retain his (slightly) less annoying Pennsylvania accent, rather than succumb to the “Hahvahd Yahd” thing.
Fact 2: Markopolos once slept in a dumpster in the East 60’s while staking out Bernie Madoff on the weekend after a triple witching options expiration, just to have first dibs on the shredded trade confirmations.
Fact 3: In 2003, Markopolos single-handedly called BS on the “Weapons of Mass Destruction” assumptions of the Pentagon after spending 30 seconds or so looking at the intelligence.
Fact 4: Markopolos can do 20 one-handed push-ups with each hand without breaking a sweat, but if asked to do so in public, will modestly demur with a modest chuckle…did we mention he’s a Nobel Laureate in Modesty?
Fact 5: In the early part of this decade, Markopolos briefly dated Sarah Michelle Gellar, Penelope Cruz, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston, but he broke all of their hearts when he decided to focus on his career and investigation.
Fact 6: When he finally caught Bernie Madoff at the end of a sewer tunnel, Madoff yelled above the hum of rushing water “I’m innocent!”, to which Markopolos yelled back, “I don’t care!”
Fact 7: Markopolos never wore a Livestrong bracelet. Never, ever, ever…he was way too cool for that.
Fact 8: The day of the bust, Markopolos yanked Bernie’s smirking mask off and exposed the face of none other than…Mister Willikers! The old caretaker of the haunted petting zoo!
Enjoy your moment of fame, Harry Markopolos, you deserve it. You almost saved a ton of money for the American investing public…almost.
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.
I’m a New York City-based financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. I help people invest and manage portfolios for them. For disclosure information please see here.
Subscribe & Reform
Get a Full Investor Curriculum: Join The Book List
Every month you'll receive 3-4 book suggestions--chosen by hand from more than 1,000 books. You'll also receive an extensive curriculum (books, articles, papers, videos) in PDF form right away.
Harry,
Please accept the movie offer for “Made-Off” from Sony! Mom would like to do her own stunts and Dad
feels that it would be a “Happy Ending” for her.
So, what do you think?
Harry,
Please accept the movie offer for “Made-Off” from Sony! Mom would like to do her own stunts and Dad
feels that it would be a “Happy Ending” for her.
So, what do you think?
Harry,
Please accept the movie offer for “Made-Off” from Sony! Mom would like to do her own stunts and Dad
feels that it would be a “Happy Ending” for her.
So, what do you think?
Wow! what an incredible person you are.we need more americans like you …in office!
Wow! what an incredible person you are.we need more americans like you …in office!
Wow! what an incredible person you are.we need more americans like you …in office!
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
Teresa
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
Teresa
I have to add a serious note. Along with 11,000 investors around the USA, my husband and I have been involved in a SEC Receivership for nearly 4 years. Still no money for us and the criminals have not spent one minute inside a jail house.
My husband and I have taken a VERY active part in keeping this scam in the public eye after the SEC came in shut the business down. Like your situation, Harry, there had been several opportunities for earlier notice to have been taken.
Ironically, our Receiver was once the Indiana Securities Commissioner. Our scam was home officed in Sullivan, Indiana. Ran by Vaughn Reeves and his three sons. We were Ponzi’d us out of
$180M.
I have talked with SEC people at different times since the shut down of Alanar. Having come away from the conversations feeling very frustrated. Court room experiences were equally disgusting, viewing the SEC representatives, the Receiver, and their lawyers acting the ‘Good Ole Boys Club’.
Thank you and know that you are speaking for all of us around this country that haven’t been allowed to have a voice.
If all the money that has been scammed from Investors could be returned, the economy would be stimulated!
Teresa
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
Investors should never ask for money back guarantee on investment. Such requires diligence and if you invested wisely with sufficient information on hand such should not have happen. Often investors who were scammed did not check or investigate. Hence, those who lost money no matter the amount should be responsible for their personal negligence.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.
A real American Hero. I hope our government will tap him to train investigators to identify the red flags of fraud.
I also hope he will help programmers develop computer programs that will analyze financial market data to assist the investigators in fraud investigations.
It’s sad that so many people lost their life savings. Nonprofit institutions that our world so desperately needs forced to close after being financial drained. People committing sucicide. Heart-breaking.
This guy needs to be publically rewarded. Big Time. This the type of guy that President Obama needs working for him.