Famed economist John Maynard Keynes completely wiped out his personal wealth twice by recklessly speculating on foreign currencies before writing the theories that now govern modern macroeconomics.

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Famed economist John Maynard Keynes completely wiped out his personal wealth twice by recklessly speculating on foreign currencies before writing the theories that now govern modern macroeconomics. The absolute undisputed godfather of twentieth-century fiscal policy practically bankrupted himself trying to brilliantly outsmart the market, ultimately learning the hard way that markets can remain entirely irrational far longer than you can remain structurally solvent. He eventually recovered his vast fortunes through incredibly conservative investments and then essentially lectured the entire world on how governments should responsibly manage their money. There is something deeply poetic about the entire global banking establishment operating on the core principles of a guy who previously gambled away his rent money like a degenerate day trader