Madoff makes millions on a real investment

Convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff invested in a legitimate biotech company and saw his stake double in value. Who gets the profit?

By Aimee Picchi Feb 4, 2013 3:44PM

File photo of Bernard Madoff leaving federal court in New York on Jan. 14, 2009 (Gino Domenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Convicted con artist Bernie Madoff, whose name has become a byword for swindler, actually made an investment that's paid off -- and it's all real.


Madoff invested $2.2 million in a biotechnology company called Stemline Therapeutics (STML), which went public on Tuesday in the first biotech IPO this year, according to the New York Post.


With the company selling shares at $10 each, Madoff's $2.2 million investment was turned into $5.5 million. 


Of course, most of Madoff's other "investments" turned out to be a sham. Madoff is thought to have masterminded the biggest U.S. financial fraud ever, convincing his clients that he was generating steady returns through his investing acumen. In reality, he admitted in court, when clients wanted to cash out, he paid them with money that belonged to other clients.


Madoff is serving a 150-year sentence in a federal prison. 


The investment in Stemline Therapeutics may provide some relief to his victims, the Post notes. 


A court-appointed trustee, Irving Picard, has filed a lawsuit against a Madoff family fund seeking to grab the winning investment on behalf of the victims. Madoff's son Andrew is the "interim manager" of Madoff Family LLC, according to Stemline's prospectus. The Madoffs own 515,203 shares of the company, or about 6.9% of its post-IPO shares, the regulatory statement notes.


Picard's suit states that the Stemline shares rightfully belong to Madoff's former clients.


Stemline develops treatments for cancer tumors and cancer stem cells, but has yet to bring in revenue from its operations, according to its prospectus.


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135Comments
Feb 4, 2013 5:28PM
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His victims should get any money he makes until they are completely repaid, even if that means getting a judgment against his estate after he dies.
Feb 4, 2013 5:22PM
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It is really too bad that every one of the crooks invovled with and causing the finanicial debacle are not breaking bread with 'ol Bernie in the big house. Oh, but then who would finance and funnel all the billions to elect and re-elect the crooks uh, I mean politicians?

 

Hope the profits can go to help the victims.

Feb 4, 2013 5:09PM
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Greedy rich investor went for big unbelievable retunes on their money to live king's lifestyle. They did and they lost like lot of day traders.

 

I have no sympathy for them. Crooks calling a crooks a crook, is their bottle. Government should not spend any money except for what may be their interest. Most these rich will right off as investment loss and get plenty kick back in taxes.

 

If they have problem, let private lawyers fight for them with their own arrangement.

Feb 4, 2013 5:03PM
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It's a no-brainer, that 5.5 million should go to his victims.
Feb 4, 2013 4:52PM
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That profit that was made should have been paid back to the people that invested with him and lost Millions!
Feb 4, 2013 4:51PM
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He's no worse than the big banks that stole millions and got a slap on the wrist.
Feb 4, 2013 4:49PM
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It doesnt take a genius to figure out that this should not even be a debate.   Any and all of Madoff assetts should have been frozen than and now to be given back to the losers of the scam he had going.   Let this be a simple lesson if not already known.   If you steal or take monies or property  from anyone you are now and forever responsible to repay that debt..

To add to responses.   The matter of giving back monies that investors actually made a profit is monies that should have been given back also if the money was stolen from others to pay the profit.  It

would be no different if you knew or not.   An example of this would be if you bought something that was stolen and you are found out it requires you to give it back to the owner.  Cars are stolen and this

is an example of that.   If you buy a stolen car you must give it back with no question.  I know life is not always fair to everyone, even when they are trying to be honest and lawabiding citizens.

Feb 4, 2013 4:49PM
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It may be a real investment ... but how do you make money when you have yet to bring in ANY revenue?
Feb 4, 2013 4:44PM
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Too bad he didn't make the same legitimate returns for his clients. The guy could have been even bigger than he was and people wouldn't have lost their ****.....
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