10 Millionaires Behind Bars

Published by Siofra M

Blinded by the light of wealth and success, some well-off individuals have made foolish decisions to maintain or amass wealth and they’ve suffered harsh consequences because of their errant desire to have it all. We’ll look at ten of the world’s richest individuals behind bars; some of these wealthy criminals were even granted freedom and a second chance, and refused to learn their lesson. After learning of their unfortunate fate, we can’t help but think that these individuals should have realised that prison is the great equaliser, and your money means nothing when the state takes away your freedom.
While money can buy a lot, it can’t (normally!) buy you independence from the law. Get caught in criminal activity and even these billionaires have to face consequences. The criminals on our list have bank accounts that indicate success, but unscrupulous characters and reputations that represent the opposite. These wealthy and powerful individuals failed to realize the value of self-control and discipline after they reached the pinnacle of their career; having joined the ranks of the world’s richest people, these criminals became embroiled in illicit schemes that would lead to their downfall.
So, let’s take a look at these former billionaires and millionaires who once basked wealth, and whose personal histories took a nasty turn after their unlawful acts and poor decisions caught up with them.

10. Jordan Belfort – Lost $100 million

Jordan was once a multi-millionaire reaping massive success as a stockbroker. He had everything he wanted in life, including the much-coveted luxury of spending apparently limitless money as and when he wanted. Belfort was making an estimated $250 Million a year when he was 25 years old thanks to his stock broking firm, the Stratton Oakmont. The money dried up, though, after Jordan was found guilty of money laundering and fraud. He lost his multimillion dollar fortune and was forced to relocate from his luxury living quarters to a prison cell for two years. He had to pay back at least $100 million in ill-gotten gains. Jordan Belfort’s notoriety did bring him fame; he wrote memoirs on his criminal past, one of which was adapted by world-famous director Martin Scorsese.

Next: 9. Kim Dotcom - Lost $17 million

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