Technology company Apple reportedly paid $5 million after a bidding war for the rights to author Michael Lewis’ upcoming book on former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. The book, which focuses on Bankman-Fried, will be released on October 3, the same day SBF’s trial begins in New York.
Book to Be Made into a Documentary
According to The Ankler’s September 7 report, Apple acquired the rights to the book titled “The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon” and plans to release it on October 3, coinciding with SBF’s trial in New York. Lewis proposed a publication date targeting the beginning of the former FTX CEO’s trial during the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami.
In addition to the book, it has been reported that filmmaker Nanette Burstein, known for her documentaries on programmer John McAfee and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has prepared a documentary on Bankman-Fried. Due to his high-profile case and unique fashion style and hair, Bankman-Fried seems to be the subject of several documentaries during and after the trial.
The ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists raises uncertainty about the progress of such films. Union members are calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to address topics such as the future use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
Media Industry and Crypto Events
Bankman-Fried’s story made headlines long before the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX and his arrest in the Bahamas. Many saw the former CEO as a rising star overseeing billions of dollars in assets at Alameda Research and FTX, yet he continued to appear in public mostly wearing t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers. During court hearings prior to the revocation of his bail, SBF often appeared in a suit and tie.
Other documentaries featuring prominent figures or events in the crypto world include Netflix’s “Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King,” which explores the alleged death of QuadrigaCX founder Gerald Cotten during a trip to India, and a documentary about Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong’s journey. It has also been reported that a film about the relationship between Bankman-Fried and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is in the works.
