Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind the largest Ponzi scheme in history, has died in prison at 82. Madoff died serving his 150-year sentence at a prison in Butner, North Carolina. Judge Denny Chin, who sentenced Madoff to his 150-year sentence, said “the symbolism of a 150-year sentence was important: the public trust had been eroded by Mr. Madoff’s ability to manipulate the system for so many years, he deserved to be punished according to his moral culpability.”

Tragically, one of his sons died of cancer, and his other son hanged himself because of the shame that his father initiated. Madoff’s brother Peter also served a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement in the scheme. After his sentence ended, he was in home confinement, which ended in August of 2020. Madoff’s wife, Ruth, is still alive and lives near Greenwich, Connecticut with her former daughter-in-law. Before the truth came out, Madoff had a great reputation with A-list clients including director Steven Spielberg, actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, and former New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon. During that time he accumulated several homes on the beach, multiple boats, and a penthouse in Manhattan. Although Madoff died, his reputation as one of the biggest fraudsters in history will live on for years.