A secret that destroyed everything. The Wizard of Lies, starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, is available now on HBO. | HBO

The Wizard of Lies: When Trust Becomes the Biggest Illusion Based on true events, The Wizard of Lies (2017) exposes how Bernie Madoff built the largest Ponzi scheme in history - a $65 billion empire made entirely of deception. For decades, he fooled investors, banks, and even regulators with nothing but charm, reputation, and lies wrapped in confidence. But when the illusion collapsed, it didn’t just end a career - it destroyed lives, families, and legacies, including his own. Lesson: The higher