1937-
Deal Maker and Inside Trader

Symbol.

Ivan Boesky became one of the most famous, and notorious, deal makers of the 1980s. By the middle of the decade Boesky was one of the leading figures on Wall Street and a leading symbol of the prosperity and the corruption of the decade. Boesky was a restless, driven man who found success on Wall Street.

Restless.

Ivan's father, William, an immigrant from Russia who owned a chain of bars that featured topless dancing and strippers, became a source of embarrassment for his son as Boesky matured. Boesky never seemed to be accepted by the right crowd. During his teen years Boesky briefly attended the exclusive Cranbrook preparatory school where he had an average academic record, eventually transferring to the public Mumford High School. Boesky attended a variety of colleges and universities before going to Iran with a high-school...