How a 15-Second Phone Call Can Ruin Your Life

Insider trading is a great way to make money, and go to prison

Author

George Pillari
February 28, 2024

Rajat Gupta had retired as head of McKinsey & Co., the world’s top consulting firm and he sat on the boards of some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including Proctor & Gamble and Goldman Sachs. While at McKinsey, Gupta oversaw the dramatic growth of a global business and was an adviser to presidents, heads of state, titans of industry, and philanthropists.

He counted Bill Gates and Bill Clinton among his close friends. Gupta was reported to be worth more than $100 million and to many, was one of the most accomplished and respected individuals on the planet.

It was his decision to make a 15-second phone call that erased all of it and put Gupta in jail for two years. By the time he made that phone call, Gupta’s thinking was so distorted, he did not understand the downside of his decision to make that call but was instead blinded by the upside.

Listen to our podcast that includes dramatic re-enactments and new characters that help explain the story through their points of view. You will meet:

Gupta, the former head of McKinsey & Co., the world’s top consulting firm

Rajaratnam, the hedge fund manager and trader

Luther, our in-house counsel

Briggs, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission

And several others.

Reply

or to participate.