Martin Shkreli: From Pharma Star to Prison Cell
Martin Shkreli is one of the most controversial figures in modern corporate history—a former hedge fund manager and pharmaceutical executive who rose to infamy not for medical breakthroughs, but for skyrocketing the price of a life-saving drug and ending up behind bars. His story is a rollercoaster of ambition, arrogance, and ultimately, accountability.
The Rise: Who Is Martin Shkreli?
Born in Brooklyn in 1983 to Albanian and Croatian immigrants, Martin Shkreli showed an early interest in biotech and finance. He dropped out of Baruch College but quickly made waves in Wall Street circles by founding hedge funds like Elea Capital, MSMB Capital, and later, Turing Pharmaceuticals.
The Controversy: The Drug Price Scandal
Shkreli’s name exploded into public consciousness in 2015 when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, acquired the rights to Daraprim, a drug used to treat parasitic infections in AIDS patients—and hiked the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill overnight.
The backlash was swift and brutal. He was dubbed “The Most Hated Man in America”, and earned the nickname “Pharma Bro” for his smug, unapologetic demeanor in the media and online.
Related: 13 Notable CEOs Who Found Themselves in Prison
Related: Bernie Madoff: The Man Behind the Largest Ponzi Scheme in History
The Fall: Arrest and Convictions
In 2015, Shkreli was arrested on unrelated securities fraud charges, stemming from his time running MSMB Capital and Retrophin, a biotech firm he allegedly looted to pay back angry investors.
In 2017, he was convicted on three counts of securities fraud and conspiracy, though not related to the drug pricing scandal. He was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $7.36 million in assets.
Life After Prison
Shkreli was released in 2022, finishing his sentence in a halfway house. Despite being banned from the pharmaceutical industry for life, he continues to stir controversy online, trying to remain relevant through podcasts, crypto, and social media.
Conclusion
Martin Shkreli’s story is a cautionary tale of greed, ego, and the limits of capitalism. Once a rising star in biotech, he became a symbol of everything wrong with Big Pharma. Now, stripped of power and status, he remains infamous—a living reminder that some lines, even in business, shouldn’t be crossed.
