Multinational technology company Apple has reportedly paid $5 million for the rights to author Michael Lewis’ upcoming book on former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) following a bidding war.
According to a Sept. 7 report from The Ankler, Apple secured the rights to the book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, which is set to be released on Oct. 3 — the start of SBF’s trial in New York. Lewis suggested an October publication date at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami, aiming for the beginning of the former FTX CEO’s criminal trial.
In addition to the book, the media outlet reported a documentary was in the works by director Nanette Burstein, who was behind films on programmer and crypto evangelist John McAfee — who died in prison in 2021 — and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Bankman-Fried is likely to be the subject of many documentaries amid and following his criminal trial due to the high-profile case as well as his unique fashion style and hair.
It’s unclear how such films may be moving forward with the ongoing strike of the Writers Guild of America coupled with that of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The union members are calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to address issues including residuals from streaming media and how artificial intelligence may be used in the industry in the futur.
Related: Top 5 Bitcoin documentaries to add to your watchlist
The story of Bankman-Fried dominated headlines well before the downfall of crypto exchange FTX and his arrest in the Bahamas. Many once looked at the former CEO as a rising star who grew to oversee billions of dollars in assets at Alameda Research and FTX but kept making public appearances largely in a T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. During court appearances prior to his bail being revoked, SBF often appeared in a full suit and tie.
Other documentaries featuring prominent figures or events in the crypto space include Netflix’s Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King on QuadrigaCX founder Gerald Cotten, who allegedly died during a trip in India, as well as one exploring the journey of Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong. Prior to the writer’s strike, there was reportedly a film being produced on the relationship between Bankman-Fried and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.