Lewis, however, noted that there was no way for SBF to confirm if that number came directly from Donald Trump.
Michael Lewis, who currently documents the ‘grace to grass’ story of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has revealed some unpopular facts about the FTX founder. According to the acclaimed author of “The Big Short” and “Flash Boys”, Bankman-Fried once contemplated paying Donald Trump $5 billion to make him stop running for the United States presidency.
Lewis, while speaking during a Sunday CBS interview, also shared that SBF did some research into the potential payoff. First off, he claims that Bankman-Fried wanted to find out how much would be enough to buy Trump. Then again, he did mull over the legality of such a payment, Lewis added. He said:
“So he did get an answer… There was a number that was kicking around. And the number that was kicking around when I was talking to Sam about this was $5 billion.”
Lewis, however, noted that there was no way for SBF to confirm if that number came directly from Donald Trump. However, as it turned out, FTX blew up right in the middle of the whole conversation. Therefore, SBF simply did not have that much amount to pursue the cause any longer.
For what it’s worth though, SBF is not an undercover political donor. Neither has he shown any inclination towards a particular political party. His past donations to both Democrats and Republican lawmakers alike, at least, suggest this.
However, Lewis says SBF saw Trump as someone intent on destroying the democracy that the United States enjoys today. As a fact, he did see Trump as “belonging on the list of existential risks,” he added.
Sam Bankman-Fried could see up to a 100-year jail term. That is if he is convicted from his upcoming trial that begins tomorrow October 3. He faces at least seven charges bordering on fraud. Although five of the charges appear largely like a conspiracy, there are two substantive ones that prosecutors are positive they can use to nail SBF.
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