The Key Man cover art

The Key Man

How the Global Elite Was Duped by a Capitalist Fairy Tale

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The Key Man

By: Simon Clark, Will Louch
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In this compelling story of greed, chicanery and tarnished idealism, two Wall Street Journal reporters investigate a man who Bill Gates and Western governments entrusted with hundreds of millions of dollars to make profits and end poverty but now stands accused of masterminding one of the biggest, most brazen frauds ever.

Arif Naqvi was charismatic, inspiring and self-made. The founder of the Dubai-based private-equity firm Abraaj, he was the key man to the global elite searching for impact investments to make money and do good. He persuaded politicians he could help stabilize the Middle East after 9/11 by providing jobs and guided executives to opportunities in cities they struggled to find on the map. Bill Gates helped him start a billion-dollar fund to improve health care in poor countries and the UN and Interpol appointed him to boards. Naqvi also won the support of President Obama's administration and investors, who compared him to Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible.

The only problem? In 2019, Arif Naqvi was arrested on charges of fraud and racketeering at Heathrow airport. A British judge has approved his extradition to the US, and he faces up to 291 years in jail if found guilty.

Populated by a cast of larger-than-life characters and moving across Asia, Africa, Europe and America, The Key Man is the story of how the global elite was duped by a capitalist fairy tale. Clark and Louch's thrilling investigation exposes one of the world's most audacious scams and shines a light on the hypocrisy, corruption and greed at the heart of the global financial system.

©2021 Simon Clark (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions True Crime White Collar & Corporate Crime Crime Exciting Investing Wall Street
All stars
Most relevant  
Beautifully crafted real life story about greed, vanity, egoism, and 'doing 'good'...and much more. I found it enthralling and informative. Loved the narrator's style.

Greed on steroids

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