By
– August 25, 2011
Marc Rich has been described as the world’s biggest commodities trader, the inventor of the spot oil market, a traitor, and the savior of Israel and Jamaica.
In this carefully researched biography, Daniel Ammann, a talented investigative journalist, traces the life of this fascinating figure from his childhood as a Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis from Belgium via France and Morocco to the U.S., where he grows up, and eventually to Switzerland, where he becomes both the “King of Oil” and a fugitive from American justice.
As he builds his secretive empire, he does business with some of the most influential people of our time, including Ayatollah Khomeini, Fidel Castro, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barack, Michael Manley, and the heads of the governments of Nigeria, Angola, and several other African nations. We also meet his nemesis, Rudy Giuliani, and assorted FBI agents, as well as his eventual saviors, including his exwife,Denise Rich, and most importantly, President Bill Clinton, who famously and controversially pardoned him. Ammann introduces us to these and many other fascinating people and explains the historic circumstances that brought them into Rich’s orbit, as well as the intricacies of commodities trading and the international laws which govern it. Illustrated, index, notes.
In this carefully researched biography, Daniel Ammann, a talented investigative journalist, traces the life of this fascinating figure from his childhood as a Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis from Belgium via France and Morocco to the U.S., where he grows up, and eventually to Switzerland, where he becomes both the “King of Oil” and a fugitive from American justice.
As he builds his secretive empire, he does business with some of the most influential people of our time, including Ayatollah Khomeini, Fidel Castro, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barack, Michael Manley, and the heads of the governments of Nigeria, Angola, and several other African nations. We also meet his nemesis, Rudy Giuliani, and assorted FBI agents, as well as his eventual saviors, including his exwife,Denise Rich, and most importantly, President Bill Clinton, who famously and controversially pardoned him. Ammann introduces us to these and many other fascinating people and explains the historic circumstances that brought them into Rich’s orbit, as well as the intricacies of commodities trading and the international laws which govern it. Illustrated, index, notes.
Peter L. Rothholz headed his own Manhattan-based public relations agency and taught at the Business and Liberal Arts (BALA) program at Queens College. He lives in East Hampton, NY and Santa Monica, CA and is a frequent contributor to Jewish publications.
