Apple purchases rights for book on Sam Bankman-Fried for $5 million
Apple Inc. has invested $5 million to purchase the rights to Michael Lewis’ forthcoming book: “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon”. The book offers a deep dive into the turbulent life of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of the defunct FTX crypto exchange.
Table of Contents
A tale of corruption and greed
The book is set to hit shelves on October 3, precisely as SBF’s headline-grabbing criminal trial launches in New York. This date is poised to be momentous, pulling in readers keen to understand the backstory as legal events unfold.
With a $5 million price tag, Apple‘s acquisition shatters previous records, notably the $2 million spent on the rights for the global phenomenon, the Harry Potter series. The Ankler, a renowned media outlet, confirmed the enormous transaction.
Apple turning SBF into a Hollywood blockbuster?
Lewis’s name lends weight to the narrative. The author, celebrated for bestsellers like “The Big Short” and “The Blind Side” – both adapted into Hollywood blockbusters – dedicated a year to shadowing the once-billionaire SBF. He witnessed firsthand the meteoric rise and staggering fall of this crypto titan.
This wasn’t a distant observation. Lewis immersed himself in SBF’s world, from glamorous FTX parties in the Bahamas to the adrenaline rush of the Super Bowl. The author followed the story thoroughly, even during the SBF’s house arrest.
But Apple isn’t the only player intrigued by SBF’s story. A slew of Hollywood projects, numbering at least eight, are in the works. This includes a profile documentary by Nanette Burstein, acclaimed for her insightful film on Hillary Clinton in 2020. Burstein’s forthcoming piece promises “exclusive inside access.”
Moreover, Amazon has greenlit a limited series focusing on the FTX crash from November 2022. However, these projects may hit snags owing to the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
The story is not over yet
Once a luminary in the crypto realm, SBF had previously mingled with the creme de la creme in Washington. However, after an $8 billion calamity at FTX, he resigned from his CEO position.
Subsequent legal battles ensued, with charges ranging from fraud to money laundering. Even as the company, now helmed by CEO John Ray III, has sued him for a staggering $1 billion, SBF vehemently denies these allegations. Notably, four of his former colleagues, including Alameda Research head and ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison, have admitted guilt.
With the trial around the corner, all eyes are on SBF, and Apple’s investment shows they believe this story will captivate the world.
