The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich

by Daniel Ammann

Book Overview

Billionaire oil trader Marc Rich for the first time talks at length about his private life (including his expensive divorce from wife Denise); his invention of the spot oil market, which made his fortune and changed the world economy; his lucrative and unpublicized dealings with Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran, Fidel Castro's Cuba, war-ravaged Angola, and apartheid South Africa; his quiet cooperation with the Israeli and U.S. governments (even after...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031265068X
• ISBN13: 9780312650681
• Release Date: November 2010
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A Pure Capitalist

This book tells, in plain language the incredible story of Marc Rich. Author Daniel Ammann takes very complicated business and legal issues and makes them clear and interesting. The story flows nicely. It is a "can't put it down" book. When you're finished, you sympathize with Rich. Marc Rich (speaking through Ammann's text) is convincing in his contention that he's been over-prosecuted and demonized beyond his alleged crimes. Many believe he is the ultimate international demon, but the reasons for his notoriety are not clear to the general public. After he paid his company's back taxes plus fees, US prosecutors, who were building name recognition to go on to more powerful or lucrative careers, pressed for a criminal conviction. Significant resources were used in building this case and hunting him down. Bill Clinton could certainly sympathize with the harassment factor. Rich is less convincing in justifying his dealing with the world's most oppressive governments. While saying these deals are merely business, he claims that in bringing commerce to these sad and poor countries he has made life better there. Like the Nicholas Cage character in Lord of War [Blu-ray], he believes "This is not our war." I believe he made life better for the dictators and their henchmen at the top, thereby retarding the development of better societies. Rich showed confidence in his story by giving Ammann unprededented access to people and records and ceding him full editorial and content control. Ammann uses his access well and covers Rich's family, his rise, his methods and lifestyle. Rich's terse answers in the interview at the end show wisdom and experience. To me, his flaw is that he believes that everything legal is moral. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this person and topic.

A gripping story

This was one of my favourite books of 2009. At last someone could meet Marc Rich and get more than monosyllables out of him. This book is very well researched and I congratulate the author for his tenacity in explaining to other people what oil trading is all about. Not only that, we learn that Marc Rich's ex-wife was perhaps not, as previously widely reported, the sole individual who helped gain a last-minute pardon from Bill Clinton. Some Israeli friends seemed to have helped a lot too. I'm still not sure whether Marc Rich is a saint or a sinner. But, after reading this book, you have to admit, he's a very clever man and extremely astute when it comes to business. As for Bill Clinton, I can imagine that last-minute pardon still seems a mystery to most people. Marc Rich says he will never return to the United States for a visit, just in case he's arrested, for example, for a minor parking offence. Does that mean he doesn't really believe too much in that presidential pardon? You have written a very entertaining book, Daniel Ammann.

Closer to the truth about Marc Rich

I read "Metal Men" by Copetas when it was published in the 1980's. At the time it was a supposed expose about Marc Rich and his expoitative behavior and treachery, and was the only book written about him. There was never an interview with Rich in the book, and when I re-read it after the Clinton pardon in 2001 it still left me with a feeling that alot was missing. This new book by Ammann is a satisfying, eye-opening piece of balanced journalism that sheds enough light on Rich's life and works to allow the reader to make his own judgment on the man and the circumstances. A well-written read for anyone interested in the life and motivations of an international businessman and, by default, political figure.

Fantastic story

I was waiting for a book on the life of Marc Rich. The Author here give a balanced account of the Rich story. I read the whole book in 2 days a gripping story showing the human side of Marc Rich. Love him or hate him you have to admire his abilities. The chronicling of his business dealings are amazing taking you all over the globe.

What a story!!!

This is very well researched and well written account. If you know anything about markets, trading, politics then you simply have to read this book. IT certainly allows you to draw your own conclusions about the man.