Benzinga - Renowned financial journalist and author Michael Lewis has revealed that he is nearing completion of his latest book, which focuses on Sam Bankman-Fried and the collapse of the FTX crypto empire.
Speaking at the Bitcoin 2023 conference, Lewis shared that he conducted extensive interviews with individuals close to Bankman-Fried, as well as employees, investors, Bahamas officials and U.S. regulators.
Although the movie rights have already been sold to Apple, the final manuscript is still a few months away from its due date, The Block reported.
Lewis said the project initially began with an unexpected phone call from a friend who ran a Wall Street firm in 2021.
The friend had a potential business deal involving shares exchanged with a company led by Bankman-Fried, Lewis said, adding he was asked to spend time with Bankman-Fried and report back.
This marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would take Lewis to Hong Kong and the Bahamas, where he conducted interviews with over 100 people, he said.
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Lewis Follows FTX: During their first meeting, Lewis said he found Bankman-Fried to be an unconventional character, with a mop of hair, casual attire and a sense of adventure.
Intrigued by Bankman-Fried's story, Lewis requested to be a "fly on the wall" and closely observe his actions.
As the reporting progressed until October of the previous year, Lewis wasn't certain if he had enough material for a compelling narrative.
Fate intervened when FTX experienced a sudden and dramatic implosion.
This unexpected turn of events provided Lewis with the much-needed climax for his book.
He expressed gratitude for the development, as it gave his story a captivating third act.
While Lewis did not provide an exact publication date, he expressed his desire to release the book to coincide with the potential start of a criminal trial against Bankman-Fried.
Prosecutors initially targeted October for the trial, although Bankman-Fried's legal team has indicated a possible request for a date extension.
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