Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright, Bradley Hope

This book delves into the astonishing true story of one of the most audacious financial schemes in history, orchestrated by Jho Low, a financier who managed to siphon off billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB. With a combination of charm, bold deception, and the complicity of high-profile individuals and institutions, Low financed an extravagant lifestyle and bankrolled Hollywood films, all while eluding global law enforcement. This gripping narrative exposes the intricate web of fraud, money laundering, and corruption, stretching across multiple countries and involving a cast of characters from the upper echelons of political and financial power, revealing the vulnerabilities and dark corners of the global financial system.

The 9984th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 69

Since this book was first published in 2018, there is a penalty of 70.4%. The age adjusted score is 20.42.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.