Madoff's marvellous returns: We explore the investment returns behind the world's largest ever ponzi scheme

4/15/21 7:00PM

Bernie Madoff, disgraced financier and architect of one of the most elaborate frauds in corporate history, has died in prison this week aged 82.

‍Mr. Madoff's marvellous returns

‍Thanks to an in-depth academic study of Fairfield Sentry, one of Madoff's investment vehicles, we've been able to dig out the monthly investment returns for Madoff from 1990 to 2008, with 215 months of returns data. The numbers show a remarkable (fake) track record. According to the data, Madoff's worst month out of all 215 was a -0.64% return, with 198 months reporting a positive return for investors.

From this data we estimate that a $100 investment with Bernie in the Fairfield Sentry fund in 1990 would have turned into almost $600 by 2008 — a nice return that would have been seemingly achieved with an incredible amount of consistency and very little volatility.

In hindsight it's easy to say that Madoff's returns looked "too good to be true", >90% of months in the green does sound a bit absurd, but at the time it wasn't easy to spot. Madoff made bold claims about his, now infamous, split-strike conversion strategy which consists of "a long equity position plus a long put and a short call". If that confuses you, don't worry it is supposed to, and it explains why so many people — including celebrities and some sophisticated investors — had no idea they were investing in the world's largest ponzi scheme.

Max Knoblauch2h

Some automakers are working accounting magic to extend the EV tax credit beyond today's deadline

The $7,500 EV tax credit is set to expire after today, September 30. Logically, electric vehicle sales are expected to fall off afterward.

But some automakers, including Ford, GM, and luxury EV maker Lucid, have found ways to effectively extend the credit for some customers.

According to reporting by Reuters, Ford and GM have initiated plans to dealers that would have the automakers themselves put down payments on EVs currently in inventory at dealerships. Those down payments would qualify for the expiring tax credit, and dealers would be able to extend the subsidy to future customers through discounted lease rates.

Reuters reports that the programs were launched following discussions between the automakers and the IRS.

In August, Lucid announced that the company would honor the $7,500 tax credit through the end of the year for lessees who order its Gravity SUV by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Exclusive: Ford, GM launch programs to extend use of $7,500 EV lease credit

Reuters reports that the programs were launched following discussions between the automakers and the IRS.

In August, Lucid announced that the company would honor the $7,500 tax credit through the end of the year for lessees who order its Gravity SUV by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Max Knoblauch7h

Boeing is reportedly planning its 737 successor

Boeing has spent much of the year improving its deliveries and climbing out of the hole it dug last year as safety issues and a major strike rocked its business.

Now, the plane maker is weighing what comes next. Boeing is in the early stages of planning a successor to its 737 family of planes, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this year, CEO Kelly Ortberg promoted an executive to a role overseeing the 737 replacement and discussed a new engine for the plane with Rolls Royce, per the report.

Plans are early, and the process of developing a new plane can take more than 10 years. Boeing is about six years behind schedule in replacing its 777.

Exclusive | Boeing Has Started Working on a 737 MAX Replacement

Earlier this year, CEO Kelly Ortberg promoted an executive to a role overseeing the 737 replacement and discussed a new engine for the plane with Rolls Royce, per the report.

Plans are early, and the process of developing a new plane can take more than 10 years. Boeing is about six years behind schedule in replacing its 777.

Nia Warfield

9/29/25

Shopify and Etsy pop as OpenAI brings instant checkout to ChatGPT

Shares of the e-commerce companies jumped after OpenAI said ChatGPT users can now turn searches into instant purchases.

Shopify sign on their branch office building in Toronto.

Tom Jones

GRANDE EXIT

9/29/25

Starbucks is shutting around 1% of its stores in North America

The chain is also axing 900 non-retail jobs.

A Starbucks Coffee shop closed during the Covid-19 crisis.

Max Knoblauch9/26/25

“Madden” maker EA surges on report it’s nearing $50 billion deal to go private

Shares of video game giant Electronic Arts are surging up more than 15% Friday following a Wall Street Journal report that the company is nearing a roughly $50 billion deal to go private.

According to the WSJ, an investment group including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and PE firm Silver Lake (which is also part of the TikTok deal) could announce a deal next week.

In its fiscal first quarter that ended in June, EA delivered a disappointing net bookings outlook for the fiscal year.

Shares of EA’s most intimidating competitor, “Grand Theft Auto” publisher Take-Two Interactive, climbed nearly 5% on the report.

Exclusive | Videogame Giant Electronic Arts Nears Roughly $50 Billion Deal to Go Private