Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street ...

Billion Dollar Whale is the true story of Jho Low, a wannabe billionaire who swindled the country of Malaysia out of almost 10 billion dollars through 1MDB, a ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“BillionDollarWhale:TheManWhoFooledWallStreet,Hollywood,andtheWorld”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof BillionDollarWhalebyTomWright. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—BillionDollarWhale byTomWright BillionDollarWhale:TheManWhoFooledWallStreet,Hollywood,andtheWorld by TomWright, BradleyHope 4.06  ·  Ratingdetails ·  26,485 ratings  ·  1,788 reviews Anepictrue-taleofhubrisandgreedfromtwoPulitzer-finalistWallStreetJournalreporters,BillionDollarWhalerevealshowayoungsocialclimberpulledoffoneofthebiggestfinancialheistsinhistory--rightunderthenoseoftheglobalfinancialindustry--exposingtheshockingsecretnexusofelitewealth,banking,Hollywood,andpolitics.Thedusthadyettoset Anepictrue-taleofhubrisandgreedfromtwoPulitzer-finalistWallStreetJournalreporters,BillionDollarWhalerevealshowayoungsocialclimberpulledoffoneofthebiggestfinancialheistsinhistory--rightunderthenoseoftheglobalfinancialindustry--exposingtheshockingsecretnexusofelitewealth,banking,Hollywood,andpolitics.Thedusthadyettosettleontheglobalfinancialcrisisin2009whenanunlikelyWhartongradwassettinginmotionafraudofunprecedentedgallandmagnitude--onethatwouldcometosymbolizethenextgreatthreattotheglobalfinancialsystem.BillionDollarWhalewillbecomeaclassic,harrowingparableaboutthefinancialworldinthetwenty-firstcentury. ...more GetACopy KindleStore $11.99 AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Hardcover,400pages Published September18th2018 byHachetteBooks MoreDetails... OriginalTitle BillionDollarWhale:TheManWhoFooledWallStreet,Hollywood,andtheWorld ISBN 031643650X (ISBN13:9780316436502) LiteraryAwards FinancialTimesandMcKinseyBusinessBookoftheYearNomineeforLonglist(2018) OtherEditions(23) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout BillionDollarWhale, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions WhatcontributemosttoJhoLow'sabilitytopulloffthe1MDBscheme?Isitrelatedtohischarismaorbyacquaintinghimselfwiththecorrectindividuals? 3likes · like 3yearsago Seeall3answers JessyWan Lowisn'taparticularlybrainyguy,seeingthathestoleoutrageoussumsofmoneywithoutbotheringtokeepalowprofileandmakingplansinthelon…moreLowisn'taparticularlybrainyguy,seeingthathestoleoutrageoussumsofmoneywithoutbotheringtokeepalowprofileandmakingplansinthelong-run.ThroughoutthebookIactuallyfearedforhimbecauseofthemanyclosecallsheencountered.Ithinkhewasonlyabletopullofftheschemethroughhisknowledgeofhowthefinancialworldworkedcoupledwithasprinkleofluckhereandthere.Then,naturally,therestkickedin;humangreed,thestupidityepidemic,NajibandtheBagLady...(less) flag Forsomereason,AmazoncancelledmykindlepurchaseforthisbookandIcantfinditonthekindlestoreanymore.MayIknowwhy? like 3yearsago Seeall4answers JAMESSMITHER Notsurewhereyou'rebased?It'sstillnotonsaleintheUK-evenonlineonAmazonUK-becauseJhoLow'slawyersapparentlysentathreateninglet…moreNotsurewhereyou'rebased?It'sstillnotonsaleintheUK-evenonlineonAmazonUK-becauseJhoLow'slawyersapparentlysentathreateninglettertobooksellersintimatingtheycouldbesuedfordefamationorlibeliftheypromoteit.Asaresult,IhadtogetmycopyfromtheUSwhereitremainsavailable.(less) flag Seeall3questionsaboutBillionDollarWhale… ListswithThisBook FT(FinancialTimes)McKinseyBusinessBookoftheYear2018—thelonglist 15books — 35voters FinancialShenanigans 100books — 22voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.06  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  26,485 ratings  ·  1,788 reviews AllLanguagesBahasaIndonesia‎(3) BahasaMelayu‎(1) English‎(1726) Español‎(6) Latviešuvaloda‎(1) Nederlands‎(1) TiếngViệt‎(4) ไทย‎(4) 中文‎(2) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofBillionDollarWhale:TheManWhoFooledWallStreet,Hollywood,andtheWorldWriteareview Sep21,2018 Syahira ratedit itwasamazing BeingaMalaysianandtryingtocomeupwithaperfectlyobjectivereviewisimpossiblewhenithitsoclosetohome.Nothingagainsttothewonderfulpeoplewhocontributedtothispublication.Buttherehasneverhavebeenabookthatfilledmewithsomuchrageanddisgust.Therefore,Ishallnotself-censormyselftothebarrageofinsultsthatIshallunleash.Becauseatthismoment,Iamtoosoberandtooangrytobenice.BillionDollarWhaleisaveryreadableandwell-writtencondensatio BeingaMalaysianandtryingtocomeupwithaperfectlyobjectivereviewisimpossiblewhenithitsoclosetohome.Nothingagainsttothewonderfulpeoplewhocontributedtothispublication.Buttherehasneverhavebeenabookthatfilledmewithsomuchrageanddisgust.Therefore,Ishallnotself-censormyselftothebarrageofinsultsthatIshallunleash.Becauseatthismoment,Iamtoosoberandtooangrytobenice.BillionDollarWhaleisaveryreadableandwell-writtencondensationofthedecadelongkleptocratic1MalaysiaDevelopmentBerhadscamthatcenteredaroundonepatheticgreedymoroncalledJhoLow.ThespoiledcowardlymanchildwhocamefromamoderatelyrichfamilyofPenangwhodreamedoffameandluxury.Bysheerluckandhisconnectionstothoseofwealthandfortune,hebecameaself-madecrazyrichAsianbillionaire.Ofcourse,noneofitwouldhavehappenedifMrLowhadn'tsurroundhimselfwithhisenablersfrommiddleeasternprincestobankerstoHollywoodA-listerstopoliticianswhogotsuckintothiswebofliesandill-begottenwealththatwasfundedbyanddebtpaidbyusmillionsofMalaysiantaxpayers.Sadly,therewillbepeoplewholookuptoJhoLow.Whoseehimasageniusmastermindwhodupedeveryoneforagrandshort-livedadventure.Theremightbemoviebeingmadefromthisbecausewhynot?PeopleshoweringinCristalchampagne.Famouspaintingsandacquisitions.Shoppingsprees.ParisHilton,BritneySpears,AliciaKeys,MirandaKerr,KimoraLeeSimmons,NicoleScherzinger,BustaRhymesandofcourse,LeonardoDiCaprio.DumbdumbpeoplebeingseducedbyeasymoneybutwhoamItoblamethem.Me,someonewhoonlysharedthesamenationalityofthepersonwhofooledthemall.Itwaspainfullyhardtryingnottobecomenumbafterseeingcountlessofmillionsandbillionsdollarsbeingthrownabout.Themassivescaleanddownrightridiculousandthoughtlessinhumanityofitall.Howmassiveamountofmoneybeingdroppedandnobodyeventhoughttowonderwheretheycamefrom.Ringgitbeingdepreciatedsosuddenly.Yearsofusbeingshackledbymassivedebtincurred.Andforwhat?Forpaidaffectionofactorsandsupermodels?ForsomepinkdiamondsandtastelessBirkins?Fortherespectearnedthroughdirtymoneyborrowedfrompeopledupedleftandright?"Guilt-by-lifestyle"?Whatbloodyhypocritesthemall!Andsheerirresponsibilityofitallthatunwittinglyfellonus,millionsofvotingcitizentoturnthetidejusttoputacrackonit.It'snotsimplyaboutmoney.Therearepeoplewhohavebeenunjustifiablypersecuted,missinganddeadbecauseofthisscandal.Theunimaginablehorrorofwhatwouldhappenifweletthischaradecontinuefurther.Ihopethefuturewillunravelmoreoftherot.Ihopethehammerofjusticewillpullthebiggestwallop.Whatgoesaroundcomesaround. ...more flag 295likes · Like  · seereview Viewall17comments Sep22,2018 PaulArk ratedit reallylikedit "BadBlood"meets"CrazyRichAsians" "BadBlood"meets"CrazyRichAsians" ...more flag 190likes · Like  · seereview Viewall11comments Sep25,2018 StaceySim ratedit reallylikedit Ifyouhaveneverfollowedthe1MDBscandalclosely,youshouldreadthistocatchup.Ifyouareboredandlookingforagoodthriller,youshouldreadthisbook.IfyouareMalaysianyoushouldreadthisbook.Ifyouworkinthefinanceindustry,youshouldreadthisbook.Ifyou'relookingforHollywoodmixedfinancialcrime-scandal,youshouldreadthisbook.Ifyou'relookingtofeelinfuriated,youshouldreadthisbook.Ingeneral,youshouldreadthisbook.That'sit. Ifyouhaveneverfollowedthe1MDBscandalclosely,youshouldreadthistocatchup.Ifyouareboredandlookingforagoodthriller,youshouldreadthisbook.IfyouareMalaysianyoushouldreadthisbook.Ifyouworkinthefinanceindustry,youshouldreadthisbook.Ifyou'relookingforHollywoodmixedfinancialcrime-scandal,youshouldreadthisbook.Ifyou'relookingtofeelinfuriated,youshouldreadthisbook.Ingeneral,youshouldreadthisbook.That'sit. ...more flag 143likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Dec10,2018 Schuberino ratedit itwasok Thisisahardonetorate-thestoryitselfisastoundingandoutrageous,andIthinkanincrediblyimportantstorytoknow.Thewriting,ontheotherhand...isagoodcasestudyinwhyjournalistsarenotnecessarilyauthors.Fullsentencesrepeatedthemselvesthroughoutthebook,countlessdetailsre-introducedoverandoverincludingexcitingfactslikeBangkokisthecapitalofThailand(sigh).Theauthorstwistedthemselvesintointroducingacliffhangerattheendofeachchapterthatwa Thisisahardonetorate-thestoryitselfisastoundingandoutrageous,andIthinkanincrediblyimportantstorytoknow.Thewriting,ontheotherhand...isagoodcasestudyinwhyjournalistsarenotnecessarilyauthors.Fullsentencesrepeatedthemselvesthroughoutthebook,countlessdetailsre-introducedoverandoverincludingexcitingfactslikeBangkokisthecapitalofThailand(sigh).Theauthorstwistedthemselvesintointroducingacliffhangerattheendofeachchapterthatwasobviousanduncomfortableatbestandatworst,createddiscrepanciesinthereporting.ThewayLowwasportrayedvariedquiteabit(isheshyoroutgoing....charismaticorawkward-I'llneverknowafterthisbookbecausehewasboth!).IalsothoughttherewasamissedopportunitytotalkabouttheimpactonMalaysiaanditspeopleasawhole.ThereweresomereferencesthroughoutthebookbutIthinkthereisamuchbiggerstoryhere.Recommendreadingalongarticleaboutthisheistinstead. ...more flag 82likes · Like  · seereview Viewall12comments Feb24,2020 Max ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: current-events Incredible!Ifyouareintotruecrime,thebigheist,thisisthebiggest.Ifyouareinterestedinthemanipulationsofhighfinance,thegreedofWallStreetinvestmentbanks,howmoneyishiddenandmanipulatedinoffshoreaccounts,thisisyourstory.Ifyoupayattentiontogovernmentcorruptionandmalfeasance,you’llbehardputtofindamoreegregiouscase.Ifyouareintooverthetop,unbelievableparties,pickupthisbook.Ifyouliketofollowthecelebrities,theHollywoodset,t Incredible!Ifyouareintotruecrime,thebigheist,thisisthebiggest.Ifyouareinterestedinthemanipulationsofhighfinance,thegreedofWallStreetinvestmentbanks,howmoneyishiddenandmanipulatedinoffshoreaccounts,thisisyourstory.Ifyoupayattentiontogovernmentcorruptionandmalfeasance,you’llbehardputtofindamoreegregiouscase.Ifyouareintooverthetop,unbelievableparties,pickupthisbook.Ifyouliketofollowthecelebrities,theHollywoodset,theyarehere:LeonardoDiCaprio,JamieFox,ParisHiltonandmany,manymore.Andthisstoryisn’tover.Manyinvolvedhavebeencaught,othershaveslidby,someareinhidingandundoubtedlystillpullingstrings.Ourperpetrator,JhoLow,isaratherunremarkablelookingMalaysianofChineseethnicity,bornintoafamilyofmoderatewealth.HisbusinessmanfatherinvestsinhimsendinghimtotheHarrowSchoolinEnglandwherehecanrubshoulderswithchildrenofthewealthyfromaroundtheworld.FromtherehestudiesatWhartonintheU.S.,wherehehangsoutmostlywiththeinternationalsetmakingmorecontactswithchildrenofinfluentialparents.Ensnaringtheinfluentialbecomeshismodusoperandiashisall-consumingdesireforwealthandstatus,thebrazennessofhisschemes,thecraftinessofhismethods,hisabilitytofindandcultivaterelationshipswithco-conspiratorswhocontrolhugeamountsofmoney,makehimoneofthemostremarkablecriminalsofourtime.Iwon’tspoilthisbookbygettingintodetails,buttheaftermathcontinues.Justtoday(2/24/2020)ReutersrananarticleregardingthefinancialfalloutasMalaysiaseeks$7.5billioninreparationsfromGoldmanSachs.TheauthorTomWrightjusttweetedabouttheThaigovernment’sprotectionofJhoLowwhichiscausingconsiderableconsternationinthatcountry.HehasbeenreportedtobehidingoutinChinanow.ThebookleftmewithaqueasyfeelingabouthowmastermanipulatorslikeJhoLowcansoeasilysubvertglobalinstitutionsandpowerfulgovernmentfiguresbyofferingthemapieceoftheaction.JhoLowdidsignificantdamagetotheeconomyofanentirecountry.WiththeUnitedStatesnowbeingledbyanamoralrealestatepromoterwhocontrolshisattorneygenerallikeatraineddog,thechancesofsimilarshenanigansintheU.S.hardlyseemfarfetched. ...more flag 40likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Nov23,2018 Mehrsa ratedit reallylikedit Firstofall,theauthormakesthisclearattheend,butnotnearlyclearenough:ThisisnotastoryaboutsomerandomMalaysianconman--it'sastoryaboutGoldmansacksandhollywoodandtheSaudisandhowgreedallowedsomeonetolieandcheathiswaytopartyingwithLeonardoDiCaprioandParisHilton.Everyonecanbebought.That'sthemoralofthestory.Therewassomehyperbolehereonthefinancialcrime.ThoughWrighttriesseveraltimes,he'snotquiteabletopulloffagreatexplana Firstofall,theauthormakesthisclearattheend,butnotnearlyclearenough:ThisisnotastoryaboutsomerandomMalaysianconman--it'sastoryaboutGoldmansacksandhollywoodandtheSaudisandhowgreedallowedsomeonetolieandcheathiswaytopartyingwithLeonardoDiCaprioandParisHilton.Everyonecanbebought.That'sthemoralofthestory.Therewassomehyperbolehereonthefinancialcrime.ThoughWrighttriesseveraltimes,he'snotquiteabletopulloffagreatexplanationforwhythis"crime"wasuniqueorevenacrime--besidesthefactthatitdidn'tworkout.Also,heseemstowanttopaintalltheforeignersascorruptandshady,buthegoeslightonallofLow'slegalandbanking"helpers"inAmericaandallthemoneytheymadeonhim.Idon'tbelieveinthe"badguy"storyoffinance.Ithinkwehavethesystemwewant.Lowwasjustshadierthantheaverageinvestorandlessscrupulous.Andhedidn'tmakehisinvestorsrich,whichIguessiswhyhe'sontherunnow.Also,themoneytheythrowaround(andbytheyImeanallthehollywoodstarsandactors)inthenightclubsisobscene.Disgusting.$2millioninalcoholpurchasesinonenight?Millionsincasinos?Imean,it'srevoltingandyetweallowit.Thereisnoreasonforit ...more flag 29likes · Like  · seereview Sep16,2018 Anas ratedit itwasamazing Itshardtoputdownthisbook,asifthestorieswerefantasies.TheheistcommitedbyJhoLowisdefinitelybiggerthanBernieMaddoffponzischeme,wellatleastBernie’sinverstorsgottheir‘profits’back.JhoLowrepresentsadesperatefigurewhowantscompanionship,recognitionandlove(evenifitisfake)throughmoney.Hisacts,cowardlyhidingbehindwithoutholdinganofficialpositionin1MDBundoubtedlyshady,butnotaproblemforastupidprimeministerlikeNajibatthattime.Lo Itshardtoputdownthisbook,asifthestorieswerefantasies.TheheistcommitedbyJhoLowisdefinitelybiggerthanBernieMaddoffponzischeme,wellatleastBernie’sinverstorsgottheir‘profits’back.JhoLowrepresentsadesperatefigurewhowantscompanionship,recognitionandlove(evenifitisfake)throughmoney.Hisacts,cowardlyhidingbehindwithoutholdinganofficialpositionin1MDBundoubtedlyshady,butnotaproblemforastupidprimeministerlikeNajibatthattime.Low’sschemeperfectlysummarizedinthepage371-“hesensedthattheworld’slargestbanks,it’sauditors,anditslawyerswouldnotthrowupobstaclestohisschemeiftheysmelledprofits”ThankyoutoTomWrightandBradleyHopeforwritingthisbook.IwouldprobablyneedtosmuggleitifNajibwasn’tdefeatedbackinMay2018.Ihopethatthepublisherwouldconsiderreleasingacheaperversion,andmaybetranslateintotheMalaylanguagesothatmoreMalaysianscanreadthisbook. ...more flag 27likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Sep16,2018 Venky ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: world-politics SincethepublicationofAllThePresident’sMen,BarbariansAtTheGateandTooBigToFail,therehavebeenfewbooksofthisgenrethathavegrippedtheimaginationofthereader–untilthearrivalofBillionDollarWhale.A‘whale’isahighrollinggamblerwhoconsistentlywagerslargeamountsofmoney.Highrollersoftenreceivelavish“comps”fromcasinostolurethemontothegamblingfloors,suchasfreeprivatejettransfers,limousineuseanduseofthecasinos’bestsuites.Acclaimed SincethepublicationofAllThePresident’sMen,BarbariansAtTheGateandTooBigToFail,therehavebeenfewbooksofthisgenrethathavegrippedtheimaginationofthereader–untilthearrivalofBillionDollarWhale.A‘whale’isahighrollinggamblerwhoconsistentlywagerslargeamountsofmoney.Highrollersoftenreceivelavish“comps”fromcasinostolurethemontothegamblingfloors,suchasfreeprivatejettransfers,limousineuseanduseofthecasinos’bestsuites.AcclaimedjournalistsTomWrightandBradleyHopecombinetodeliverajawdroppingtourdeforcethatelucidateshowtheimpudenceofarogueindividual,theintransigenceatthehighestlevelsofarottenkleptocracyandthegreedyingenuityofaWallStreetbehemoth,allcombinedtopulloff,whatarguablyhastobethemostbrazenheistinfinancialhistory.Swindler,Fixer,Wheeler-Dealer,Compulsiveliar,andglobetrotter,LowTaekJho(JhoLow)firstappearedasasimmeringmistwhenrumoursregardingapossibleswindlingofmoneyfromMalaysia’ssovereignwealthfund,1MalaysiaBerhad(“1MDB”forshort)begandoingtherounds.Astumultuouseventssubsequentlydemonstratedinhorrificdetail,thiswasnoswindlingofaroutinerun-of-the-millnatureassociatedwiththefunctioningofaGovernmentfund.AsMr.WhiteandMr.Hopedetailwithextraordinaryclarity,1MDBwasrepresentativeofatotalcollapseofgovernanceatmultiplelevels.Itwasagargantuanvehicleofpersonalconveniencewhosewheelsweregreasedbythelubricantsofgraft.1MBDwasamotherlodeofallscamsthatultimatelyresultedinthetoppling(forthefirsttimeever)ofthekleptocraticUnitedMalysNationalOrganisation(“UMNO”)anditsstrongman,PrimeMinisterNajibTunRazak.AttheeyeofthestormwasLowTaekJho.Ambitiousandeagertomakehismarkintheworldofthenouveaxrich,JhoLow,analumnusofHarrowandWharton,bankingonhisIvyLeagueNetworkspersuadedthePrimeMinisterofMalaysiatosetupasovereignwealthfundtobenamed1MDB.ThefundwastopartnerwithPetroSaudi,acompanyostensiblyownedbyamemberofSaudiRoyalty,PrinceTurki.WhatfollowedasMr.WhiteandHopeillustrateinallitsgrislydetailisacomplex,convolutedandconnivingstructurethatresultedinmultiplecompaniesbeingincorporatedinvarioustaxhavensacrosstheglobethroughwhichmoneysoriginallyintendedtofillthecoffersofthefundweresystematicallyandruthlesslysiphonedoffbyJhoLowandhisassociates.Thecon-manproceededtosprayhislootonexcessesthatarehardtoimagine.Forinstance,tocelebratehisthirty-firstbirthday,JhoLownotonlystayedatthe$25,000pernightChairmanSuitesofthefifthFloorofthePalazzoHotelinLasVegas,healsoarrangedagrandcelebrationthathadforattendance,SwizzBeatz,JamieFoxx,LeonardoDiCaprio,BenicioDelToro,BustaRhymes,Ludacris,ChrisBrownand-holdyourbreath-BritneySpearspoppingoutofafauxcaketowishLowahappybirthday!ThiselevationofJhoLow–whootherwisewouldbedeemedtobeaparvenuwithinthecirclesofanelite–fromavirtualnobodyintoauberrichmulti-billionairesplurging$250milliononaluxuryyachtEquanimityor$8milliononacquiringjewelrytoimpresshiscouldbegirlfriendMirandaKerr,wasfacilitatedbyaphalanxofunscrupulouscharacterswhoinaFaustianbargainsacrificedsenseatthealtarofgreed.AttheveryapexofthepyramidwastheformerPrimeMinisterofMalaysia,NajibRazak.AlthoughunawareoftheinsidiousdepthofJhoLow’smacabremotives,thepoliticianwasnonetooaversetoutilizepublicfundstobothfurtherhiselectoralprospectsandtosatiatetheinexorablematerialneedsofhishighspending,preeningandstruttingwife,RosmahMansor.Havingsetupa‘secret’accountforthePrimeMinisterwithAmbank,abankthathadANZGrindlaysasitslargestshareholder,inMarch2013,“JhoLowsentaBlackBerrymessagetoJoannaYu,anemployeeatAmbankinKualaLumpur,warningherthat“681AmericanPies”wouldsoonbearrivingfromoverseasintoanaccountknownas“AMPRIVATEBANKING–MR”.Verysoonawhoppingsumof$681millionmadeitswayintothedesignatedaccounttobeusedforthepurposesofbolsteringthechancesofthePrimeMinisterintheensuingelectionsof2013.ThestashaccumulatedbyRosmahMansorwastosaytheleast–jawdropping!“PoliceraidedKualaLumpurapartmentunitsownedbyNajib’sfamilyandcartedout$274millionworthofitems,including12,000piecesofjewelry,567handbagsand423watches,aswellas$28millionincash.”Todrumupthemoneyfor1MBD,andintheprocess,toobtaintheirownsignificantcut,wastheruthlessWallStreetBankinggiantGoldmanSachs.Theduoof‘Dr.’TimothyLeissner,theflamboyantplayboyandChairman,SouthEastAsia,andAndreaVella,HeadofGoldmanstructuredfinancebusinessinAsia,whobetweenthem,ensuredthat,“intotaloverjusttwelvemonths,thebankhadearnednearly$600millionfromsellingthreebondsforthe1MDBFund–twohundredtimesthetypicalfee.”ABoardofpuppetsandtoothlesstigersat1MDBheadedbyShahrolHalmi,merelyrubberstampingtheordersofJhoLowandthePrimeMinistercontributedtoagreatextenttothecontinuingpillage.WhenacontentiousMohammedBakkeSalleh,theChairmanoftheFundstartedraisingsuspicions,hewaspromptlyremovedandreplacedbyanotherpliantloyalist.Threedifferentauditingfirms–partoftheBig4s–thatcompletelyfailedintheirdutiestodetectbrazenroundtrippingandnon-existentredemptionoffundsfromobscureCaymanIslandaccounts.Thebankersthemselveswhocompromisedonallscruplesattheprospectofpersonalenrichment.Yak,abankerwiththeBSIGroupinSingapore,“begantotakehomearound$5millionayearinsalaryandbonuses,morethanfivetimeshispreviousearnings,bindinghimtoLow,themoneyandadulationtooalluringtoturndown.”Finally,theman’sinsatiabledesiretobedrenchedinfortuneanddrowninfameledtoarampantfosteringofgreedwhichnoamountofmonetaryresourcescouldcurb.Spendingastaggering$85million“onalcohol,gamblinginVegas,privatejets,rentingsuperyachts,andtopayPlayboyPlaymatesandHollywoodcelebritiestohangoutwiththem”;renting“asuiteofroomsthatcost$100,000permonth”;“…acquiredacondominiuminNewYork’sParkLaurelBuilding…for$36million;spending“2millioneurosonchampagne”inonesinglenightatSaint-Tropez;fundingRedGraniteaproductioncompanyco-ownedbyRizaAziz,thestep-sonofNajibRazakandJoeyMcFarlanethatproducedtheMartinScorsesedirected“WolfofWallStreet.”Theheadyintoxicationfueledbylaunderedmoneynowbeganseepingintotheexoticworldofart.“InallbetweenMayandSeptember2013,Low,viaTanore,bought$137millioninart.ButLowhadpickedupmore….suchastheVanGogh,aswellasworksbyLichtenstein,PicassoandWarhol,andbytheendoftheyearhepossessedartworthanestimated$330million.”ThesepreciousacquisitionswerestashedinthesecretiveentrepotsoftheGenevaFreeport–asanctuaryforpreservingthematerialpossessionsofthe‘uberelite’,waybeyondthepryingeyesofthetaxman.Mr.WhiteandMr.Hopehaveleftnostoneunturnedintheirquesttobothunearthandunleashthetruth.Theyhavedoneafabulousjobatthat!Thenarrativeislaidoutinamatteroffact,barebonesmannerwithneitheranintentiontosensationalizethingsnortotakebiasedsides.Theresearchismaddeninglymethodicalandunbelievablyextensive.OnecanonlyimaginethetwointrepidjournalistssiftingthroughwhatmusthavebeenanEverestofphysicalanddigitaldepositories!Thissureisan8848meterresearchofexemplarycalibre!Whenthedustfinallysettledonthepilfering,plunderandpillage,1MDBwasindebttothetuneofawhopping$10billionwithLowandhisassociatesvanishingintothinair.Atthetimeofthisreview,LowisawantedfugitivewithanInterpolnoticehangingoverhisheadlikeaDamoclessword.Swiftlyrunningoutofoptions,thenetofjusticeandtheharpoonsofinfernalhellseemtobeclosingdownuponthisinvidiouswhale! ...more flag 20likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jan28,2019 FarahFirdaus ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: non-fiction TheamountofmoneybeingspentcasuallyattheexpenseoftheMalaysiancitizenswasgivingmeanxiety.Thebookisclearandwellwrittenalthoughitkindofrequiresomebasicfinancial/economicknowledgethroughoutthepages(thanksGoogle!)Can’tbelievethatI’mlivingthroughoneofthebiggestfinancialheistsinhistory.IhopeLowandhisassociatesaresooncapturedandputbehindthebarsforhismassivegraftandcorruption. flag 17likes · Like  · seereview Apr01,2019 ScottHitchcock ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: nonfiction Epicavariceonagloballevel.Ifyoudon'tthinkthefinancialmarketsareriggedfortherichincorruptionthatspanscontinentsyouneedtoreadthis.Thetie-instoHollywoodandAmericanpopculturegivesanewperspectivetojusthowrichthesepeopleareandhowtheirgreedknowsnoboundsandtheirconsciencesarenonexistant. Epicavariceonagloballevel.Ifyoudon'tthinkthefinancialmarketsareriggedfortherichincorruptionthatspanscontinentsyouneedtoreadthis.Thetie-instoHollywoodandAmericanpopculturegivesanewperspectivetojusthowrichthesepeopleareandhowtheirgreedknowsnoboundsandtheirconsciencesarenonexistant. ...more flag 16likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Nov03,2018 AthanTolis ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: ec-and-finance, business TheWallStreetJournalseemstobedoingsomethingright,RupertMurdochownershipnotwithstanding,becauseforthesecondtimein2018Ifindmyselfreadingatrulyamazingbookthat’sbasedoninvestigativeworkdonebyitscorrespondents.Notonlythat,butitcanbesaidwithsomecertaintythatinbothinstances(ElizabethHolmes’pseudo-sciencein“BadBlood”andJhoLow’s/NajibRazhak’sstolenbillionsin“BillionDollarWhale”)theJournalhasplayedapivotalroleinshininglighton TheWallStreetJournalseemstobedoingsomethingright,RupertMurdochownershipnotwithstanding,becauseforthesecondtimein2018Ifindmyselfreadingatrulyamazingbookthat’sbasedoninvestigativeworkdonebyitscorrespondents.Notonlythat,butitcanbesaidwithsomecertaintythatinbothinstances(ElizabethHolmes’pseudo-sciencein“BadBlood”andJhoLow’s/NajibRazhak’sstolenbillionsin“BillionDollarWhale”)theJournalhasplayedapivotalroleinshininglightonthesecrimesandbringingthecriminalstojustice.Indeed,IfinishedthisbookprettymuchonthesamedayasGoldmanwasforcedtoletgoofAndreaVella,theheadofitsAsianbusiness,forthecrimesdescribedhere.If,likeme,youarea“glasshalf-empty”kindofguy,ofcourse,youwillalsoremarkthatit’saterriblestateofaffairswhenjournalistsareaheadofourjusticesystem(tosaynothingofthesupposedpillarsofourcapitalistsystem),butthatcannotpossiblydetractfromwhatwasatremendous,fastpaced,comprehensiveandratherconvincingbook.Thecrimeofmoneylaunderingandthetechniqueof“layering”arerathertedious,ofcourse.Andthenumberofcharactersinthebookmakesthe“castofcharacters”intheintroductionatotalmust.Butthemaincharacterinthebook,JhoLow,wassuchapartyanimalthat(providedyouhaveatoleranceforwhatfeltlikeatleastonedodgyfinancialtransactionperpage)thiswasactuallyafunbooktoread.Andittickledthevoyeurinme,whogottosee“howtheotherhalflive.”Frankly,I’venowhadmyfillofSwizzBeats,AliciaKeys,JamieFoxx,LeonardoDiCaprioandMirandaKerr,tosaynothingofthesundrySheikhs,theirboatsandtheirjets;anytipsonhowtogetthecigarsmokeoffmyclothesarewelcome! ...more flag 15likes · Like  · seereview Dec09,2018 Lisa ratedit didnotlikeit RecommendedafterfinishingBadBlood,“maybeevenbetter”.Notevenclose.Thisisinneedofagoodeditor.ThecolorofParisHilton’snailpolishorLeonardo’sballcapaddabsolutelynothingtotheverycomplicatedstory.Ihadtopowerthroughittofinish.I'veseenseveralreviewssayingthatbecausethiswaswrittenbyjournaliststhestorywaspoorlytold.Beingajournalistdoesnotexcusepoorwritingorediting;BadBloodisaperfectexampleofajournalistwritingaverycaptivatin RecommendedafterfinishingBadBlood,“maybeevenbetter”.Notevenclose.Thisisinneedofagoodeditor.ThecolorofParisHilton’snailpolishorLeonardo’sballcapaddabsolutelynothingtotheverycomplicatedstory.Ihadtopowerthroughittofinish.I'veseenseveralreviewssayingthatbecausethiswaswrittenbyjournaliststhestorywaspoorlytold.Beingajournalistdoesnotexcusepoorwritingorediting;BadBloodisaperfectexampleofajournalistwritingaverycaptivatingandwellwrittenbook. ...more flag 15likes · Like  · seereview Oct01,2018 SooYen ratedit likedit NotreallylovingthecurrenthottestbookinMalaysia.Toomuchmoneyandtoomanycharacters/banks/fakecompanies/partiestokeeptrackof.There'salotoflongtechnicalfinancialdetailsthatarenoteasilyunderstoodforthelaypeople.Thebookismoresuitedforthoseinthebankingorfinanceindustry. NotreallylovingthecurrenthottestbookinMalaysia.Toomuchmoneyandtoomanycharacters/banks/fakecompanies/partiestokeeptrackof.There'salotoflongtechnicalfinancialdetailsthatarenoteasilyunderstoodforthelaypeople.Thebookismoresuitedforthoseinthebankingorfinanceindustry. ...more flag 12likes · Like  · seereview Dec24,2018 Murtaza ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: best-of-2018 Thisbookwasanabsolutelyinfuriatingglimpseattheunhingedexcessesoftheglobalelite,throughtheprismof1MDB(1MalaysiaDevelopmentBank)asovereignwealthfundthatbecamethevehicleforthebiggestcriminalenterpriseontheplanet.JhoLow,ayoungChinese-MalaysianWhartongraduatemanagedtogetcontrolofbillionsofdollarsofdollarsbymanipulatinghisrelationshipswithhiseliteschoolcontactsandMalaysia'scorruptformerPrimeMinisterNajibRazak.Hewasintegralin Thisbookwasanabsolutelyinfuriatingglimpseattheunhingedexcessesoftheglobalelite,throughtheprismof1MDB(1MalaysiaDevelopmentBank)asovereignwealthfundthatbecamethevehicleforthebiggestcriminalenterpriseontheplanet.JhoLow,ayoungChinese-MalaysianWhartongraduatemanagedtogetcontrolofbillionsofdollarsofdollarsbymanipulatinghisrelationshipswithhiseliteschoolcontactsandMalaysia'scorruptformerPrimeMinisterNajibRazak.Hewasintegralinfoundingasovereignwealthfundworthbillionsofdollarsthatwas,onpaper,intendedtobeusedforthedevelopmentofMalaysia'seconomyandsociety.WhatLowactuallydidwiththatmoneyisunconscionable.Hewentonanunhingedspendingspreethelikesofwhichtheworldhasseldomseen.LowsurroundedhimselfwithAmericancelebritiesandblewtheMalaysianpeople'smoneyonthemostabsurdexcessesimaginable.Hewashelpedinhisindustrial-scalekleptomaniabycorruptGulfArabofficialsand,ofcourse,theinfamousU.S.investmentbankGoldmanSachs.GoldmanandseveralotherbankscashedinonLow'sactivitiesbytakinghugecutsofeachheistthatheundertookfrom1MDBandgreasingthewheelsforhisaccesstotheglobalfinancialsystem.Theresultwastheenrichmentofatiny,corruptglobalelitebeyondanycomprehension,aswellasthecorruptionofMalaysia'sinstitutionsandtheimmiserationofitsworkingpeople.The1MBDscamwascomplex,butessentiallyinvolvedskimmingoffhundredsofmillionsofdollarsatatimeoffofvariousloans,bondissuesandothertransactions.Themoneywasmovedaroundamongshellcompaniesandinvestmentbanksaroundtheworld,withcomplianceofficialsinmostcasesgladtoplacetheirrubberstampsonlucrativedeals.Lowandhisco-conspiratorswereknowntospendmillionsofdollarsanightonpartying,thoughhehimselfwasthemostextravagant.Hadhebeenevenabitmorelowkeyandmorefocusedonkeepingatightship,thescamcould'veprobablycontinuedalong.Itmakesyouwonderhowmanyotherinternational"deals"likethishaveoccurredandarecontinuingtooccurrightnowwithoutourknowledge.Thenumbersinvolved,tensofmillions,hundredsofmillions,evenbillionsofdollarschanneledtosingleindividualsthroughactsofpurefinancialalchemyarehorrifying—particularlyinaworldwheremostpeoplesurvivebysellingtheirlaborforeverysingledollar.Thisbookhastomakeyoureflectonhowaneconomicsysteminwhichthingslikethisarepossible—notjustcashbutbillionsofdollarsofpublicloansconjuredoutofthinairandthenstolen—canbeviable.ItsoundslikethefinancialabsurditiesthatoccurredduringthelateSovietUnionorduringotherperiodsofsystemiceconomiccollapse.Thisbookwillundoubtedlyinfuriateanyonewhoreadsit.Lowdidn'tjustspendbillionsofotherpeoplesmoney(atleast$5billionismissingfromthefundandperhapsmore)butwasteditonthemostfrivolousexpendituresimaginable.Heandhisassociatesweredeeplyunwiseandevilpeople.Theystolefromthemouthsofthepoorwhoneededthosefundsandspentthemonexcessesthatdidnot,indeedcouldnot,satisfythemormakethemhappy.Cananyonebehappyspending2millionEurosanightonchampagne,justtoimpressagroupofstrangersinaFrenchnightclub?Thewholestoryisabsolutelygrippingandhorrible.Iabhortheromanticizationofviolenceandamagainstcapitalpunishmentasarule.ButafterreadingthisbookIhavetoadmitthatIunderstandthesymboloftheguillotinemorethanever.Thebookmademeangryenough,butifIwasaMalaysiancitizenreadingitI'mnotevensureIcouldfinish. ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Sep30,2018 Queen ratedit reallylikedit Absolutelyriveting.Itplaysoutlikeatrainwreckyoucan'ttearyoureyesawayfrom..happeninginslowmotionwiththepplofMalaysiabeingthecasualties.Howeverythinghappenedisjust...unfathomable. Absolutelyriveting.Itplaysoutlikeatrainwreckyoucan'ttearyoureyesawayfrom..happeninginslowmotionwiththepplofMalaysiabeingthecasualties.Howeverythinghappenedisjust...unfathomable. ...more flag 10likes · Like  · seereview Dec06,2020 ScienceOfSuccess ratedit itwasamazing Interesting-YES!Educational...hmm...maybeifyouwanttohaveaniceparty... flag 11likes · Like  · seereview Dec21,2018 Zak ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: non-fiction, scandal Arivetingreadwhichculminates(forgivably)inalittlesenseofschadenfreude.Detailsofthemyriadfinancialtransactionsandcorporatestructuresconcoctedtopullofftheheistseemcredible.Astothenon-curricularactivitiesrevealedwithmuchgustointhebook,Ihavenowayofverifyingtheiraccuracy.Thedisappointingpartaboutthisbookis,towardstheend,theauthorsseemtoattempttoinjectmoresensationalismintotheirstorybydevolvingintopureconjecture(suggestingmur Arivetingreadwhichculminates(forgivably)inalittlesenseofschadenfreude.Detailsofthemyriadfinancialtransactionsandcorporatestructuresconcoctedtopullofftheheistseemcredible.Astothenon-curricularactivitiesrevealedwithmuchgustointhebook,Ihavenowayofverifyingtheiraccuracy.Thedisappointingpartaboutthisbookis,towardstheend,theauthorsseemtoattempttoinjectmoresensationalismintotheirstorybydevolvingintopureconjecture(suggestingmurdersandwhatnot).Ithinktheyshouldhaveexercisedmoreprofessionalrestraintinthisregard. ...more flag 9likes · Like  · seereview Nov22,2021 Katie.dorny ratedit likedit Shelves: non-fiction, 2021 AnamazingsliceoffinancialcorruptioninrecentdecadesbutmyGODDIDTHEAUTHORSMAKEITASBORINGASPOSSIBLE. flag 10likes · Like  · seereview Jul14,2019 AlexGivant ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: recommended-by-bill-gates, crime, economy, financial-times-and-mckinsey-busine, read-again, memoirs, best-of-2019 Thisbookshowsustimeandagainthatpeoplewithconnectionsandstealingmillionsandbillionsarerarelypunishedforthat-beitUS,Russia,Malaysia,etc.Itshowsusthatbankersaredrivenbyoneandonlyonetarget-profit,youbringmoney-yougreat,youdon't-youfired.Andaftertheyeventuallystepinpileofshittheyfindscapegoatstoblameandcontinuewithbusinessasusual.Allofthesefinestheypayisjustcostofdoingbusinessandnowondersbank'schargesgrowingev Thisbookshowsustimeandagainthatpeoplewithconnectionsandstealingmillionsandbillionsarerarelypunishedforthat-beitUS,Russia,Malaysia,etc.Itshowsusthatbankersaredrivenbyoneandonlyonetarget-profit,youbringmoney-yougreat,youdon't-youfired.Andaftertheyeventuallystepinpileofshittheyfindscapegoatstoblameandcontinuewithbusinessasusual.Allofthesefinestheypayisjustcostofdoingbusinessandnowondersbank'schargesgrowingeveryyearforregularpeople-someoneshouldbeontheendforallofthismessadventuroushigh-flyingpeoplearemaking.ThisbookpretendsabitthatUSAisknightinshinyarmorbattlingwithinternationaldragonofcorruption-whileit'senoughbadpeopleinUSAwhogetsawaywithnothingmorethatwristslapdoingthesameshitasJhoLowdid. ...more flag 8likes · Like  · seereview Oct17,2018 JieHui ratedit itwasamazing Skillfuljournalismandwritingthatdetailedthemostoutrageoustheftofpeople'smoneyfromMalaysia.Itisridiculousthatnobodyevencaretodofurtherduediligenceaslongastheygetacutfromthecake.Icouldn'tcontainmyangertowardstheeventsdepictedinthebook,yetwasamazedattheextendofhumangreedthatwouldmakeourfuturegenerationssuffer,whilethebeneficiariessuffernoorminimalpunishment. Skillfuljournalismandwritingthatdetailedthemostoutrageoustheftofpeople'smoneyfromMalaysia.Itisridiculousthatnobodyevencaretodofurtherduediligenceaslongastheygetacutfromthecake.Icouldn'tcontainmyangertowardstheeventsdepictedinthebook,yetwasamazedattheextendofhumangreedthatwouldmakeourfuturegenerationssuffer,whilethebeneficiariessuffernoorminimalpunishment. ...more flag 8likes · Like  · seereview Jan08,2019 JulianLees ratedit itwasamazing Thegreed....ohthegreed! flag 8likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Aug05,2019 Mary ratedit likedit Shelves: reading-together, read-in-2019 BillionDollarWhaleisthetruestoryofJhoLow,awannabebillionairewhoswindledthecountryofMalaysiaoutofalmost10billiondollarsthrough1MDB,astate-ownedinvestmentfund.ItchronicleshowLowcraftilysetup1MDB,keepinghisnameawayfromanyofficialdocumentation,butstillretainingpowerandcontroloverthefundwhichenabledhimtodipintothemoneyanddivertitintohisbankaccountsthroughdifferentmoneylaunderingtricks.Asthestoryprogresses,wemeetthenume BillionDollarWhaleisthetruestoryofJhoLow,awannabebillionairewhoswindledthecountryofMalaysiaoutofalmost10billiondollarsthrough1MDB,astate-ownedinvestmentfund.ItchronicleshowLowcraftilysetup1MDB,keepinghisnameawayfromanyofficialdocumentation,butstillretainingpowerandcontroloverthefundwhichenabledhimtodipintothemoneyanddivertitintohisbankaccountsthroughdifferentmoneylaunderingtricks.Asthestoryprogresses,wemeetthenumerouspeoplewhoconspiredoraidedhimovertheyearstonotonlystealthemoney,butalsotouseittosupporthislavishlifestyle.ThestoryfollowsLow'sentirearcasherisestofameandthencrashesdownintheend.Overall,thiswasanenjoyablebook.Itwasanotheraudiobookreadformyhusbandandme,andwewerehookedbytheshearcrazinessofJhoLow'sbrazenness,aswellashisselfishnessandgreed.It'swrittenbytwoWallStreetJournalreporterswhowereamongthefirsttowriteexposésonLow,andtheresearchisincrediblydetailedandthorough.Whiletheresearchisimpressive,Ifeltlikethebookcouldhaveusedagoodedit.Especiallyinthefirstpartofthebook,thereweremanydetailedaccountsofthelavishpartiesLowwasthrowing,aswellashiscasinoandnightclubstunts.It'sfascinatingtoreadaboutthecelebritiesandotherwealthypeoplewhofellforhischarade,butitdidgetrepetitiveafterawhile.Ifithadbeencondensed,itwouldhavebeenamorethrillingread.TherewerealsoalotofcomplicatedfinancialtricksthathappenedinorderforLowtopulloffhisheists.Theauthorstriedtoexplainthem,butIstillfeltunsureofwhatwashappeningatpoints.Theauthorsalsoseemedtoenjoypattingthemselvesonthebackfortheirgreatreporting.Itwasn'toverlyobnoxious,butitwasalittleannoyingtoreadafewplugsforboththeirinitialarticlesonLowandtheWallStreetJournalasawhole.Giventhatthisbookwasreleasedattheendof2018byWallStreetJournalreporters,thecomparisonswithBadBloodcan'tbeentirelyoverlooked.Admittedly,wedidtrythisbookbecauseweenjoyedBadBloodsomuch,butitjustisn'tthesameasBadBlood,soIthinkweweremoredisappointedwiththisbookthanwewouldhavebeenifwehadn'tjustreadBadBloodandhadthatcomparisoninourmind.Overall,BillionDollarWhaletellsanimpressivestorythathighlightstheeffectsofcorruptionandgreed.Thereporterswerethoroughanddidtheirbesttoexplaincomplicatedsubjectsevenifitwassometimesconfusing.Ifyouwanttoreadabookaboutsomeonewhohadpeoplefooledaroundtheworld,thisisagoodread.Ifyouwanttounderstandmoreaboutthe1MDBscandalinMalaysia,thisalsodoesareallygoodjobofexplainingwhathappenedandhowithappened. ...more flag 7likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Oct10,2018 Tina ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: non-fiction, 2018 Iwasnotsuperfamiliarwiththe1MDBscandal.IhadheardalittlebitinthenewsabouttheMalaysianprimeminister,NajibRazak,buthadn'tpaidtoocloseattention.Thedetailsofthisbookareunbelievableandserveasfurthermaddeningproofofthepowerofgreedinthisworld.JhoLowdupeseveryone,frombankerstopoliticianstoA-listcelebrities,allbecausetheywantatasteofhisriches.Theyneverasktoomuchaboutwhereorhowhegotallhismoney,thatwouldspoilthefun.In Iwasnotsuperfamiliarwiththe1MDBscandal.IhadheardalittlebitinthenewsabouttheMalaysianprimeminister,NajibRazak,buthadn'tpaidtoocloseattention.Thedetailsofthisbookareunbelievableandserveasfurthermaddeningproofofthepowerofgreedinthisworld.JhoLowdupeseveryone,frombankerstopoliticianstoA-listcelebrities,allbecausetheywantatasteofhisriches.Theyneverasktoomuchaboutwhereorhowhegotallhismoney,thatwouldspoilthefun.Insomewaysitwasalittledepressingtoreadthisbook,especiallyinthesetimes,becauseitjustmadememoreandmorefrustratedwiththestateoftheworld.Ithinkit'simportanttoknowmoreaboutthesetypesoffrauds,though,becausetheyopenyoureyestothewaypeoplecanbeboughtandtheextenttowhichtheycanlie.Iwasappalledbyhoweasilypeoplewatched(andtookjoyin)Lowspendinghundredsofmillionsonfrivolous,stupidthings-basicallythrowingtheMalaysianpeople'smoneyawayonboozeandgambling.Itjustshowsthatweshouldalwaysquestionwhatthepeopleinchargearesellingasthetruthandthatthereshouldbemoretransparencyinbanking,governments,andthemovementofmoneyacrosstheglobe.Thebookisstructuredverywellandreadslikeafinancialthriller.Ilistenedtoitonaudioandnevergotboredorconfused(ok,maybealittleconfusedbysomeofthefinancialmaneuvers).Itremindedmealotintoneandgenreofanotherrecentread,BadBlood.MyonlywishwouldbethattherewasalittlemoreinformationaboutMalaysiaingeneralandtheeverydaypeopleaffectedbythisfraud,butthatwould'vemadeforanotherwholebookprobably.Idefinitelyrecommendtofansofnonfiction,thisisnotjustaboringbusiness/financialread. ...more flag 7likes · Like  · seereview May12,2020 Clairelouloves ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: non-fiction, 2020-faves Ifoundthisanabsorbingread.Ididn’tknowanythingaboutthiscasebutwasinterestedbecauseofrecentlyenjoyingBadBloodandMyFriendAnna.Ifindthesekindofstoriesfascinatingandbeyondcomprehension.Thekeywastoletsome(alot)goovermyheadwiththefinancialjargon.Iunderstandtheauthorswerewritingfactsanditwasclearlythoroughlyresearched,butIcouldgetthegistwithoutattemptingtounderstandtheinnerworkingsofoffshoreaccountsetc.Thecelebritysideo Ifoundthisanabsorbingread.Ididn’tknowanythingaboutthiscasebutwasinterestedbecauseofrecentlyenjoyingBadBloodandMyFriendAnna.Ifindthesekindofstoriesfascinatingandbeyondcomprehension.Thekeywastoletsome(alot)goovermyheadwiththefinancialjargon.Iunderstandtheauthorswerewritingfactsanditwasclearlythoroughlyresearched,butIcouldgetthegistwithoutattemptingtounderstandtheinnerworkingsofoffshoreaccountsetc.Thecelebritysideofithoweverwaslikeacarcrash;greedy,naiveandI’msureforthem,extremelyhumiliating.5stars. ...more flag 7likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Sep20,2018 AndrewTollemache ratedit reallylikedit InWallStreet2GordonGekkotellsShiaLaboeuf(Iforgotcharactername):"Afishermanalwaysseesafishermanfromafar"whichbasicallymeansittakesone,toknowone.Thuswelearnmidwaythrough"BillionDollarWhale"thatoneofthe1sttospotthatJhoLowwasafraudandwasplayingwithstolenmoneywasJordanBelfortakaTheWolfofWallStreet.Ironically,JhoLowwastheonewhobankrolledtheLeoDiCapriomovieaboutBelfort,"TheWolfofWallStreet"."BillionDollarWhale"(BDW) InWallStreet2GordonGekkotellsShiaLaboeuf(Iforgotcharactername):"Afishermanalwaysseesafishermanfromafar"whichbasicallymeansittakesone,toknowone.Thuswelearnmidwaythrough"BillionDollarWhale"thatoneofthe1sttospotthatJhoLowwasafraudandwasplayingwithstolenmoneywasJordanBelfortakaTheWolfofWallStreet.Ironically,JhoLowwastheonewhobankrolledtheLeoDiCapriomovieaboutBelfort,"TheWolfofWallStreet"."BillionDollarWhale"(BDW)isagreatbookonperhapsthegreatestthefteverwhichistheembezzlementof$3-5Bfromthe1MDBMalaysianwealthfundbyJHoLow.BDWdocumentshowLowstartedoutinlifeasthesonofarichMalaysiantextilefamilywhowhenhewenttoprepschoolintheUKandlaterWhartonintheUS,decidedhehadtoliveliketheobscenelywealthysonsofMidEastoilkingdomsandEuropeannobility.Heusedfamilyconnections,ballsandwittoingratiatehimselfwiththeMalaysianPrimeMinisterandacoterieofwannabeplayersacrosstheglobetosetupasovereignwealthfundforMalaysia(eventhoughcountryalreadyhadone)andusedaconstellationofshellcompaniesandshadybankstomakeoffwithanestimated$3-5B.Thisamazingpileofstolen$$wasusedtofuela5yearepicorgyofglobalpartyingwithmodels,HollywoodtitansandGoldmanSachsandheeveninvestedsomeitalongtheway.LeoDiCapriofiguresprominentlyasakindacelebrityonretainerwhousedLowtogetthemovie"WolfofWallSt"madewhenHollywoodpassedonit.IsohopeDiCapriogetstoplayhimselfinthemovie.EveninourfallenworldsuchacolossaltheftcannotgouncoveredforeverandeveryonefromtheMalaysianPM,toGoldmanbankerstoMirandaKerrgotarrestedorforcedtogivebackLow'sgiftsEveryonegotcaughtsaveLowwhoisstillouttheresomehwereandevenhashislawyersthreateningtosuetheauthorsforlibel ...more flag 6likes · Like  · seereview Sep30,2018 Albert ratedit itwasamazing Thisisn'tabookIwould'vepickeduphadmywifenotmentionedit.AsmuchasIfoundNajib'soustingafewmonthsagoaninterestingsocio-politicaldevelopmentinMalaysia,itwasn'tsomethingIwasgoingtodelveinto.ButthenshestartedreadingitsoIthoughtI'dreadittoo."Truthisalwaysstrangerthanfiction"definitelyappliestothisbook.HadKevinKwanwrotesuchover-the-topskimming/stealingschemein"CrazyRichAsians"itwould'vecomeacrossaslazyandcheapplotting.Bu Thisisn'tabookIwould'vepickeduphadmywifenotmentionedit.AsmuchasIfoundNajib'soustingafewmonthsagoaninterestingsocio-politicaldevelopmentinMalaysia,itwasn'tsomethingIwasgoingtodelveinto.ButthenshestartedreadingitsoIthoughtI'dreadittoo."Truthisalwaysstrangerthanfiction"definitelyappliestothisbook.HadKevinKwanwrotesuchover-the-topskimming/stealingschemein"CrazyRichAsians"itwould'vecomeacrossaslazyandcheapplotting.ButthisbookmanagedKwan'sfictional"CrazyRichAsians"toberathertame.AndImeanTAME.YouthoughtKwan's"CrazyRichAsians"or"ChinaRichGirlfriend"were"crazy"or"crazyrich"??JhoLowsays,"Holdmybeer".Thisguy.Iswear,THISGUY.HOLYMOTHEROFGOD.I'mnotsurewhathewasthinkingwhenheinitiallydecidedtoembezzle$700millionfroma$1billionfund.Imean,700?Ifyou'regoingtogothathigh,whynotgofor800?Or850?Ifnot,thenwhynot500?Oreven100?250?Surely$100millionwould'vebeenfareasiertoplugback.Andthenhefreakin'spentitoncrap(c'mon,"WolfofWallStreet"wasn'tthatgreat…).AndImeancrap!Andthenitjustballooned.$700milhere.$1billionhere.Afewhundredmillionagainhere,andthere,andhereagain.Theridiculouspartishowsomanyofthesupposedchecksandbalancesthefinancialinstitutionshaveallseemtogoawayinthefaceofridiculousprofit.Thisisstillanindustrywherepersonalword/honourmattersandasimpleemailcanbrushawaylegalrequirements.Kudostoeveryonewhosaidsomething,triedtodosomething,orjustoutrightquit.GreatreportingonhowMalaysialostafewbilliondollarsandwhatbroughtaboutthepoliticalchangeinMalaysiain2018. ...more flag 6likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Jun25,2019 JayPruitt markeditasstopped-reading Readthefirstcouplechapters.Thebookiswell-written,butIjustcouldn'tgetintoit. Readthefirstcouplechapters.Thebookiswell-written,butIjustcouldn'tgetintoit. ...more flag 9likes · Like  · seereview Sep21,2018 CKKoay ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisreviewhasbeenhiddenbecauseitcontainsspoilers.Toviewit, clickhere. Wow.Mybrainisfriedfromreadingthis.I'vebeenfollowingthe1MDBscandalcloselyeversinceitwasraisedbySarawakReport.AndIhavetalkedtoinnocentacquaintanceswhohadworkedthereaswell.Butnothingcouldhavepreparedmeforthescaleandscopeofthe1MDBscandalthathasbeenvividlyretoldinthisgrippinglywellresearchedbook.Toldinalineartimeline,HopeandWrightbroughtclarityonhowJhoLowbuiltaprogressivelycomplicatedhouseofcardsusingcorruptofficials Wow.Mybrainisfriedfromreadingthis.I'vebeenfollowingthe1MDBscandalcloselyeversinceitwasraisedbySarawakReport.AndIhavetalkedtoinnocentacquaintanceswhohadworkedthereaswell.Butnothingcouldhavepreparedmeforthescaleandscopeofthe1MDBscandalthathasbeenvividlyretoldinthisgrippinglywellresearchedbook.Toldinalineartimeline,HopeandWrightbroughtclarityonhowJhoLowbuiltaprogressivelycomplicatedhouseofcardsusingcorruptofficials,greedycorporations,opaquejurisdictionsandnaivecelebritiestopullofftheworld'sbiggestheist.Therearegenuinelysurprisingrevelationsherethatisnewevenforme.AndIhavebeenfollowingthissubjectkeenlyandcloselyforalongtime.IneverknewthatpeopleassociatedwithMahathirintroducedXavierJustotoClareRewcastleBrown.Ialsodidn'tknowthattheWSJleaksaboutNajib'saccountoriginateddirectlyfrommembersoftheoriginal1MDBtaskforce.ThechaptersinthebookendjustbeforethehistoricalelectionthatsawNajib'sdefeat.Theeventsthattranspiredafterthat(theseizureofNajib'sassetsandTheEquaminty,thearrestandsubsequentchargingofNajib)wasbrieflymentionedintheepilogue.Idohopethattheauthorscontinuetocoverthisinanupdateforthepaperbackversionofthisbook.AlmosteveryWhatsAppchatdiscussiongroupthatIamapartofhavebeenciculatinganadvancecopyofthisbookasapdf.Inspiteofthis,thisbookhasbeensoldoutinallbookshopsinMalaysia.Ifyouhadenjoyedthisbook,dosupporttheauthorsbybuyingacopywhenstocksarereplenished. ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview Jun23,2020 Alicen ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: audiobook, true-crime, read-in-2020 Inmanyways,thiswasafascinatingbookdetailingthefinancialcrimesofJhoLow.However,Iwouldhavelikedtohavehadabetterunderstandingofthemanbehindthecrimesandwhyhedidwhathedid. flag 5likes · Like  · seereview Feb04,2019 NickyLim ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Evenafterreading,Ican'tfullywrapmyheadaroundthewholescandal.Ifanything,thisbookrevealsthatthereareunscrupulouspeopleoutthereandyoumightmeetthesekindofpeopleinyourcourseoflife.Itisimportanttoholdontoyourmoralsanddogoodwork,evenifthetemptationofmoneypresentsitself. Evenafterreading,Ican'tfullywrapmyheadaroundthewholescandal.Ifanything,thisbookrevealsthatthereareunscrupulouspeopleoutthereandyoumightmeetthesekindofpeopleinyourcourseoflife.Itisimportanttoholdontoyourmoralsanddogoodwork,evenifthetemptationofmoneypresentsitself. ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    Generaldiscussiononissuesinthebook 1 28 Oct08,201805:10AM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Nonfiction 490users Business 321users Economics> Finance 150users Crime> TrueCrime 132users Biography 88users Mystery> Crime 72users Economics 68users History 62users Audiobook 50users Politics 35users Seetopshelves… AboutTomWright TomWright 39 followers TomWrightwasoneofthefirstjournaliststoarriveatthesceneoftheraidinwhichNavySEALskilledOsamabinLaden.In2013,hespearheadedcoverageofthecollapseoftheRanaPlazafactoryinBangladesh,whichkilledover1,000people,earningtheWallStreetJournalaSigmaDeltaChiawardfromTheSocietyofProfessionalJournalists.HeisaPulitzerfinalist,aLoebwinner,andhasgar TomWrightwasoneofthefirstjournaliststoarriveatthesceneoftheraidinwhichNavySEALskilledOsamabinLaden.In2013,hespearheadedcoverageofthecollapseoftheRanaPlazafactoryinBangladesh,whichkilledover1,000people,earningtheWallStreetJournalaSigmaDeltaChiawardfromTheSocietyofProfessionalJournalists.HeisaPulitzerfinalist,aLoebwinner,andhasgarnerednumerousawardsfromtheSocietyofPublishersinAsia,whichin2016namedhim"JournalistoftheYear."HespeaksEnglish,Malay,FrenchandItalian. ...more BooksbyTomWright More… ArticlesfeaturingthisbookGoodreadsStaffersShareTheirSummerReadingPicks Ifyoulovereadingasmuchasourcolleagues,thenyoursummerfunitinerarywillmostlikelyincludebooks.Tohelpinspire...Readmore...114likes·38comments TriviaAboutBillionDollarWh... Notriviaorquizzesyet.Addsomenow» QuotesfromBillionDollarWh... “Thefollowingyear,Lowhadarrangedfor$170millionfromtheGoldman-preparedpower-plantbondstofillNajib’saccount.Toavoidquestions,CheahandLowhadseentoittheaccountwasmarkedasoneusedforinternalbanktransfers,meaningitwouldnotbevisibletocompliancestaff.TheAustralianandNewZealandBankingGroup,knownasANZ,ownedaminoritystakeinAmBank,givingittherighttoappointexecutivesandboardmembers.ButANZ’smanagementhadnoideaaboutthissecretaccount’sexistence.JoannaYu,amiddle-levelAmBankexecutive,wastaskedwithtakinginstructionsfromLowaboutincomingwiresandoutgoingchecks.Najibhadusedmostoftheinitialinfusiontopayoffcronypoliticians,aswellasonjewelryanda$56,000expenseatSignatureExoticCars,ahigh-endcardealershipinKualaLumpur.Now,withtheelectionsapproaching,theaccountwasabouttobecomealotmoreactive.” — 0likes “Inthespaceofamonth,sincePrinceTurkihadwrittenNajibwithhisproposalinlateAugust,amulti-billion-dollarjoint-ventureagreementhadbeencompleted.Suchatimeframe—tocompleteduediligence,assetvaluations,andotherlegalchecks—wasvirtuallywithoutparallel.” — 0likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.