Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct crypto exchange FTX, explored the idea of offering Donald Trump a staggering $5 billion to abstain from running for the presidency, as revealed by Michael Lewis, the renowned author of books like “The Big Short” and “Flash Boys,” during a recent CBS interview.
According to Lewis, Bankman-Fried was actively considering the feasibility and legality of such a payment. Lewis stated, “There was a figure being tossed around when I discussed this with Sam, and that figure was $5 billion.”
He also emphasized that Bankman-Fried’s concerns extended beyond the monetary aspect, as he questioned whether such a proposition would comply with the law.
In response to these revelations, Mark Botnick, a spokesperson for Bankman-Fried, chose not to provide any comments regarding the potential payment.
Before FTX’s collapse, Bankman-Fried had a history of active involvement in political donations, with federal prosecutors reportedly scrutinizing his contributions to politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Currently facing a myriad of charges, including fraud, Bankman-Fried’s impending trial, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, could potentially lead to a sentence of more than 100 years in prison if he is convicted.