An aspiring D-list actor in Hollywood managed to raise $690 million by deceiving hundreds of investors, starting with his closest friends. This elaborate scheme, which has been described as a tale of fake-it-till-you-make-it gone bananas, eventually caught the attention of the FBI. The actor's actions have been characterized as those of a financial sociopath, highlighting the recurring phenomenon of con men who manage to deceive people repeatedly. The story was reported by the New Yorker.