Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon

Lewis describes Caroline Ellison, a fellow math whiz who met Sam at Jane Street Capital in the summer before her senior year, as insecure and easily influenced by the men she dated.

Caroline was later hired as a full-time trader at Jane Street, but she felt unsatisfied with her work. She quit to join Sam’s new trading firm, Alameda Research. When she left Jane Street, her bosses saw her as part of a wave of effective altruists who were leaving Wall Street to pursue more meaningful work. Her boss tried to convince her to stay by arguing against the virtues of utilitarianism, but her mind was made up.

At Alameda Ventures, Sam hired about 20 effective altruists (EAs) with no experience in trading. The employees were unhappy with Sam’s management style and the chaotic atmosphere at the firm. Sam claimed that he wanted to be the central hub of the company, with everyone reporting to him, but he struggled to effectively listen to and communicate with his team. The financial outlook was chaotic as well; the firm was losing money on its trades, and Sam also seemed unbothered that millions of dollars had mysteriously gone missing.