Going Infinite

Introduction: The Rise of Sam Bankman-Fried

Natalie Tien’s path to becoming the head of public relations for the cryptocurrency exchange FTX was highly unusual. Raised in Taiwan by parents who hoped she would marry well, Natalie instead sought independence in the chaotic world of digital currency. When she joined FTX in 2020, she encountered a leader unlike anyone else in the field named Sam Bankman-Fried. While other executives seemed driven by money, Sam appeared indifferent to wealth and operated with an intensity that made the company move incredibly fast.

Sam Bankman-Fried presented himself to the world in wrinkled T-shirts and cargo shorts with a permanent mess of unkempt hair. During his first television appearances, he would often play video games or answer emails while fielding questions from reporters. His behavior was not a calculated act of rebellion but rather a total lack of interest in social conventions. He viewed his schedule as a series of probabilities, frequently skipping major events at the last minute and leaving his staff to invent excuses.

The scale of Sam’s wealth was staggering and unprecedented in modern financial history. Forbes investigators found that within just three years, he had become the richest self-made newcomer in the history of their list with a net worth estimated at $22.5 billion. This figure ignored a massive collection of private assets and obscure digital tokens held by his trading firm. Sam transitioned from a private trader to a global celebrity, fielding requests from world leaders and superstar athletes.

Despite his massive influence, Sam remained fundamentally detached from the world of status and physical appearance. A vivid example occurred during a video meeting with Anna Wintour, the legendary editor of Vogue magazine. While Wintour pitched him on sponsoring the Met Gala, Sam sat in a hotel room playing a fantasy video game. He decided the event would not help FTX reach female investors and simply canceled his appearance at the last minute.

This pattern of behavior created constant chaos for those around him, yet Sam never intended to be rude. He moved through life making constant adjustments based on what he valued most at any given second. He treated politicians, famous musicians, and powerful journalists with the exact same distracted indifference. In early 2022, the public viewed his eccentricities as the hallmarks of a genius who was too busy changing the world to worry about showing up on time.