Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon

“On our walk I asked him how much it would take for him to sell FTX and go do something other than make money. He thought the question over. ‘One hundred and fifty billion dollars,’ he finally said—though he added that he had use for ‘infinity dollars.’”

This significant moment reveals Sam’s relationship with wealth. The conversation occurs during a walk, which sets a relaxed and informal tone. This setting contrasts with the high-stakes financial world that Sam typically navigated, suggesting a more personal and candid moment. The question posed to Sam touches upon the central theme of wealth and ambition in the narrative. Sam’s comment about having “use for ‘infinity dollars’” suggests that, for him, the pursuit of wealth is not solely about material comfort or luxury. Instead, it signifies a desire for power and influence beyond traditional conceptions of wealth.

“Sam explained that he was trying to decide whether to simply pay off the $9 billion Bahamas national debt himself, so the country could fix their roads and build schools and so on.”

The sheer magnitude of Sam’s gesture underscores the immense wealth he accumulated through his crypto ventures. It speaks to his financial capabilities, emphasizing that he possesses the resources to influence entire countries’ financial situations. The passage also raises questions about Sam's motivations and the practicality of such a proposition. The notion of a single individual attempting to eliminate a nation's debt is highly unconventional and potentially unfeasible. Sam’s contemplation of this idea might indicate a certain level of naivety or a belief in the near-infinite possibilities of wealth, which aligns with the earlier mentioned concept of “infinity dollars.