The trader who made $100mn from the 1929 crash — only to lose it all
About this episode
The episode explores the life of legendary trader Jesse Livermore, who made a fortune during the 1929 crash but ultimately lost it all, highlighting the risks of trading and mental health issues.
Jesse Livermore was a legendary trader who made and lost several fortunes in the early 20th century, most famously by shorting the Wall Street crash of 1929. His early life was immortalised in the roman à clef Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefèvre, and his trading insights and stunning successes continue to inspire professional traders and would-be traders to this day. But his life also contains cautionary tales about the ease with which success can morph into failure, and what happens when the buzz of the markets is no longer enough. Host Robin Wigglesworth and the FT's US financial commentator Robert Armstrong explore the extraordinary life of the greatest day trader in history. Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health. Further reading: Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (1923), Edwin Lefèvre 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation (2025), Andrew Ross Sorkin Credits: Getty Images, The New York Times To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here…
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