Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks

Many, though not all, of Keefe’s subjects are people with extraordinary financial resources or proximity to them. Koch’s world of hobbies like elite wine collecting is that of the very rich: One wine expert admits not writing about Rodenstock’s wines because the vintages are inaccessible to most consumers. Koch is able to regard the fraudulent wine as a “detective story” (4) and hire his own detective to solve the case. Rodenstock’s frauds depend on that same wealth: Collectors like Koch rarely consume what they own, which makes discovery less likely. Similarly, Steven Cohen’s personal fortune is largely untouched by the case of insider trading at SAC that Keefe describes. When personal wealth is combined with the savvy to avoid self-incrimination, it shields its owners from consequences.

Keefe also presents episodes where wealth does not produce freedom or preserve emotional bonds. Wim Holleeder’s small Heineken ransom fortune leads to his later decision to murder his rivals, including former close ally Cor Van Hout. His wealth may have made him a folk hero, but his conduct sufficiently repels his sister Astrid that she betrays him rather than depend on his largesse. Likewise, Chapo Guzmán’s drug empire made him rich, but the isolation demanded by protective security proved untenable, both for his personal preferences and the future security of his organization.