Ep 25. Suicide Is Painless

The episode Suicide Is Painless from season 4 of American Greed explores the story of Kirk Wright, a financial advisor whose actions led to the suicides of several of his clients. Wright was a charismatic and successful businessman who ran a successful investment firm, International Leasing Group (ILG), in the Atlanta area. His clients trusted him and invested millions of dollars with his firm, hoping to make a profit.

However, as the episode unfolds, it is revealed that Wright was running a Ponzi scheme, using new investors' money to pay off previous investors. When the economy took a turn for the worse in 2008, he was unable to keep up with his obligations and the scheme collapsed, leaving his clients penniless.

Wright's clients were devastated by the loss of their savings and many of them fell into depression. In a heartbreaking turn of events, several of his clients committed suicide, unable to cope with the financial ruin that Wright had caused. The episode features interviews with the families of these clients, who share their stories of grief and outrage.

Wright's downfall was swift and dramatic. He was sentenced to more than 600 years in prison for his crimes, one of the longest sentences ever given for a white-collar crime. The episode also reveals the lengths that Wright went to in order to cover up his scheme, including faking documents, lying to investors, and even hiding assets in his mother's name.

Overall, the episode Suicide Is Painless is a cautionary tale about the dangers of putting blind trust in financial advisors and the devastating consequences that can result from unchecked greed. It serves as a reminder that even those who seem like successful and trustworthy businessmen can be engaging in criminal behavior.