In November 2021, Forbes estimated Sam's net worth at $22.5 billion, placing him one place below Rupert Murdoch and one place above Laurene Powell Jobs.
The $22.5 billion valuation followed the $40 billion valuation of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, by a global venture capital firm.
Sam owned 60 percent of FTX, which is 60 percent of $40 billion, which is $24 billion.
In Forbes' 40-year history of tracking the wealth of the wealthy, Sam was something of an outlier.
“Sam has become one of the wealthiest people on the Forbes list, which is unprecedented,” Peterson-Wedon said. “While there were grounds to estimate his net worth much higher, we wanted to be as conservative as possible.”
Sam's estimated net worth was so reliable that Forbes executives wondered if he might be interested in acquiring the media company.
--- From "Chapter 1 Yep"

There is a tug-of-war between the financial markets and the people who work in them.
After people create the market, the market creates the people.
The market that will affect Sam Bankman-Fried has been reshaping itself over the past few decades towards lessening the impact of sound.
The 2008 financial crisis was not entirely to blame, but it certainly played a part.
Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, once the most exciting trading risk-takers, have become crude in their investment style and subject to strict regulation.
They were forced to play the same monotonous role that the big Wall Street commercial banks used to play.
Accordingly, the center of trading activities shifted to the private trading industry, which was shrouded in mystery.
--- From "Chapter 4: The Development of Humanity"

From the beginning, the transaction was conducted in a state of chaos.
Most of the money I made in my first two months came from just two trades.
The frenzied rise in demand for Bitcoin has led to a bizarre distortion in the global cryptocurrency market.
In December 2017, South Korean retail speculators pushed the price of Bitcoin to 20 percent higher than on US exchanges, and the gap sometimes widened further.
If someone could simultaneously sell cryptocurrency in Korea and buy it outside of Korea, it would be an opportunity to reap huge profits.
But it wasn't as simple as it sounds.
--- From "Chapter 5: Thought Experiments on 'Rice'"

Much of what happened in Sam's world happened without the usual checks and balances in place.
Others in the outside world found it particularly difficult to voice their discontent.
The transaction funds appeared to be solely related to Sam's pocket.
So why shouldn't Sam invest as he pleases? Yet, throughout human history, it's rare for someone in their 20s to invest such a large sum of money without being significantly constrained by mature managers or the prevailing corporate regulations.
Sam said, "It's unclear whether we should have a real board of directors," but added, "We created a three-member board because without one, we'd be looked at with suspicion."
Sam said this shortly after the aforementioned Twitter meeting, but couldn't remember the other two people's names.
“The composition may have changed.
A major requirement of the job is that you don't mind signing DocuSign documents at 3 a.m.
“DocuSign signing is my main job.”
--- From "Chapter 8: The Dragon's Treasure House"

Even weeks after FTX's collapse, the Orchid Penthouse still had the aura of a crime scene, with display cases smashed and items stolen.
Each bedroom was left in the same condition as when the owner left.
The room preserved not only personal belongings but also the state of mind at the time.
Caroline's room was a mess, a mess from the excitement of going on vacation with her new boyfriend.
Clothes that I decided not to pack were strewn across the bed.
Nishad's room was spotlessly clean.
Since I had been working hard to convince them to leave the Bahamas, I had time to get things organized, like a hotel room waiting to be checked in.
Gary's room, which Sam came to use, had a special and complex story.
Three bags full of luggage were left in the corner.
Gary decided to pack his bags and left.
But not all the luggage was packed.
Clothes to be washed were still strewn around the room.
On the desk, there was a half-eaten packet of fried noodles.
The toothbrush was still on the sink.
It seemed like he was getting ready to leave, but then changed his mind and stayed a few more days before leaving.
It seemed like he had decided not to go, but then changed his mind and packed his bags as quickly as possible.

--- From "Chapter 9 Manfred"