Elizabeth Holmes - Holmes shot to fame from 2010-2015 when she founded tech start-up Theranos. She claimed to have revolutionized blood testing by developing methods that could use impressively small amounts of blood—a drop from a simple pinprick of the finger. By 2015, Forbes had named her the youngest and wealthiest self-made female billionaire in America, based on a US$9-billion valuation of her company. But things soon went south. Holmes and Theranos became the target of investigative journalists who began uncovering falsified data and potentially illegal business practices, which led to the company and its CEO being charged with fraud for deceiving investors through false or exaggerated claims about the accuracy of the company's blood-testing technology.

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Elizabeth Holmes -

In 2018 she was charged with nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for distributing blood tests with falsified results to consumers. Holmes was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud at the beginning of 2022. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was due to begin her prison stint on April 27, though she was given an extension to sort out issues surrounding childcare for her two young children whom she shares with partner Billy Evans. Her sentence was then shortened to nine years.

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Carlos Ghosn, Nissan -

Ghosn was a titan of the car industry, but in 2018 found himself in big trouble.

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Carlos Ghosn, Nissan -

As reported by BBC, the man’s been accused of "significant acts of misconduct," like using company assets for personal gain. As of January 2020, he is an internationally wanted fugitive.

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Jordan Belfort, Stratton Oakmont -

Belfort is a former stockbroker and the founder of Stratton Oakmont. The brokerage house defrauded many shareholders, and it closed in 1996.

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Jordan Belfort, Stratton Oakmont - Belfort testified against his peers and partners, and was thus sentenced to 22 months in prison. He is the subject of the 2013 film 'The Wolf of Wall Street.'

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Jeffrey Skilling, Enron -

Skilling was the CEO of Enron Corporation, an American energy company. He was released from custody in February 2019 after serving 12 years.

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Jeffrey Skilling, Enron - Skilling helped the company hide billions of dollars in debt. He was originally sentenced to 24 years in prison, but this was reduced by the United States Department of Justice (to 14 years at first).

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Allen Stanford, Stanford Financial Group - This man was one of the wealthiest people in America. Stanford was the former chairman of CEO of the Stanford Financial Group.

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Allen Stanford, Stanford Financial Group - After fraud investigations and FBI raids, Stanford was found to have defrauded investors out of US$7 billion. He is serving a 110-year prison sentence.

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John Goodman, International Polo Club - Not to be confused with the A-list actor, this John Goodman founded the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

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John Goodman, International Polo Club - Goodman got involved in a hit-and-run back in 2010. He was driving near the same polo club that he founded, and was convicted of DUI manslaughter.

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Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - You may know Ms. Stewart as a TV personality and former model. She is also the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

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Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - Stewart was sentenced to five months in jail, convicted of charges related to the ImClone stock trading case. Many thought that it was all over for Stewart. However, she made a comeback, and is enjoying success as a free woman.

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Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild - Francis is a film producer and founder of Girls Gone Wild, an entertainment franchise that has since filed for bankruptcy.

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Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild - Francis has often found himself in trouble with the law. In 2013, he was sentenced to 270 days in jail after he was found guilty of assaulting women in his Bel Air mansion in 2011.

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Sam Waksal, ImClone Systems - Waksal is known as the founder of ImClone Systems, a biopharmaceutical company that was acquired for US$6.5 billion in 2008.

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Sam Waksal, ImClone Systems - In 2003, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges relating to taxes on artwork, and was sentenced to over seven years in prison.

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Dennis Kozlowski, Tyco International - Kozlowski is the former CEO of Tyco International, a security systems company which reportedly made billions before it was merged with Johnson Controls.

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Dennis Kozlowski, Tyco International - Kozlowski reportedly made millions off unauthorized bonuses. He also used company loans to buy expensive artworks and jewelry.

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Bernard Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities - Madoff was the former chairman of Nasdaq, a stock exchange with a market cap of over US$10 trillion.

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Bernard Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities - The former stockbroker was convicted as a fraudster, defrauding investors of nearly US$65 billion. He passed away on April 14, 2021, at the age of 82, in federal prison.

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Richard Liu, JD.com - This entrepreneur, who also goes by the name of Liu Qiangdong, is the founder of JD.com.

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Richard Liu, JD.com - Liu was arrested in 2018, with reports saying he had engaged in "criminal sexual conduct." In 2019, he was exonerated.

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Rupert Stadler, Audi AG - Stadler is the former chairman of Audi AG. Like Liu, Stadler was also arrested in 2018.

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Rupert Stadler, Audi AG - Stadler was put in cuffs after a probe into emissions test cheating. He has since been dropped from the company.

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Joseph Nacchio, Qwest - You may know Nacchio (left) as the former chairman and CEO of Qwest Communications International.

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Joseph Nacchio, Qwest -

Nacchio was sentenced to six years in prison in 2005. He was found guilty of many charges, including lying about government contracts.

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Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth - Scrushy is the founder and former CEO of HealthSouth, a healthcare company that has since become Encompass Health.

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Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth - After an investigation by the FBI, Scrushy was attached to an accounting scandal. He was convicted of many counts, like extortion and money laundering, and served time in Texas.

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Bernard Ebbers, WorldCom - Ebbers was the cofounder and CEO of WorldCom, a telecommunications company that is now defunct.

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Bernard Ebbers, WorldCom -

The man was named one of the most crooked CEOs of all time by Time magazine. He tried to cover up company losses, and was convicted of fraud. He was released in December 2019 after serving 13 years of his 25-year sentence (due to declining health).

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Getty Images

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Elizabeth Holmes -

Getty Images

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Carlos Ghosn, Nissan -

Ghosn was a titan of the car industry, but in 2018 found himself in big trouble.

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Carlos Ghosn, Nissan -

As reported by BBC, the man’s been accused of "significant acts of misconduct," like using company assets for personal gain. As of January 2020, he is an internationally wanted fugitive.

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Jordan Belfort, Stratton Oakmont -

Belfort is a former stockbroker and the founder of Stratton Oakmont. The brokerage house defrauded many shareholders, and it closed in 1996.

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Jordan Belfort, Stratton Oakmont - Belfort testified against his peers and partners, and was thus sentenced to 22 months in prison. He is the subject of the 2013 film 'The Wolf of Wall Street.'

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Jeffrey Skilling, Enron -

Skilling was the CEO of Enron Corporation, an American energy company. He was released from custody in February 2019 after serving 12 years.

Getty Images

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Allen Stanford, Stanford Financial Group - This man was one of the wealthiest people in America. Stanford was the former chairman of CEO of the Stanford Financial Group.

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Allen Stanford, Stanford Financial Group - After fraud investigations and FBI raids, Stanford was found to have defrauded investors out of US$7 billion. He is serving a 110-year prison sentence.

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John Goodman, International Polo Club - Not to be confused with the A-list actor, this John Goodman founded the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

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John Goodman, International Polo Club - Goodman got involved in a hit-and-run back in 2010. He was driving near the same polo club that he founded, and was convicted of DUI manslaughter.

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Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - You may know Ms. Stewart as a TV personality and former model. She is also the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

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Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild - Francis is a film producer and founder of Girls Gone Wild, an entertainment franchise that has since filed for bankruptcy.

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Sam Waksal, ImClone Systems - Waksal is known as the founder of ImClone Systems, a biopharmaceutical company that was acquired for US$6.5 billion in 2008.

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Sam Waksal, ImClone Systems - In 2003, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges relating to taxes on artwork, and was sentenced to over seven years in prison.

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Dennis Kozlowski, Tyco International - Kozlowski is the former CEO of Tyco International, a security systems company which reportedly made billions before it was merged with Johnson Controls.

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Dennis Kozlowski, Tyco International - Kozlowski reportedly made millions off unauthorized bonuses. He also used company loans to buy expensive artworks and jewelry.

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Bernard Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities - Madoff was the former chairman of Nasdaq, a stock exchange with a market cap of over US$10 trillion.

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Richard Liu, JD.com - This entrepreneur, who also goes by the name of Liu Qiangdong, is the founder of JD.com.

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Richard Liu, JD.com - Liu was arrested in 2018, with reports saying he had engaged in "criminal sexual conduct." In 2019, he was exonerated.

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Rupert Stadler, Audi AG - Stadler is the former chairman of Audi AG. Like Liu, Stadler was also arrested in 2018.

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Rupert Stadler, Audi AG - Stadler was put in cuffs after a probe into emissions test cheating. He has since been dropped from the company.

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Joseph Nacchio, Qwest - You may know Nacchio (left) as the former chairman and CEO of Qwest Communications International.

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Joseph Nacchio, Qwest -

Nacchio was sentenced to six years in prison in 2005. He was found guilty of many charges, including lying about government contracts.

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Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth - Scrushy is the founder and former CEO of HealthSouth, a healthcare company that has since become Encompass Health.

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Bernard Ebbers, WorldCom - Ebbers was the cofounder and CEO of WorldCom, a telecommunications company that is now defunct.

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Bernard Ebbers, WorldCom -

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Big company bosses who got busted

Caroline Ellison sentenced to two years in prison for her role in FTX fraud

25/09/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Crime

When you make it to the top, you might just think you're above the law. One second you're a big company boss, the next you're a criminal.

Caroline Ellison, a former Alameda Research executive and ex-girlfriend of disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, has been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the scam. Bankman-Fried was charged as the mastermind behind the scheme that siphoned US$11 billion from FTX cryptocurrency exchange users and into Alameda Research, another company he owned. Ellison acted as the CEO of Alameda Research and was the star witness who testified against Bankman-Fried during his 2023 trial, which resulted in a 25-year prison sentence. Her cooperation with the prosecution and genuine remorse caused many to assume she would escape her own sentencing without jail time, but Judge Lewis Kaplan handed down the surprising sentence on September 24. Ellison and her family appeared shocked and dismayed by the outcome.

There have been many bosses who have gotten busted on criminal charges. From Martha Stewart to the Wolf of Wall Street, crooked bosses have been around for a while now. Click through this gallery to meet some of the most infamous bosses ever.