Naked Ambition

Because Isaac Sackler could not leave his sons wealth, they determined to make their own money and bring respect to the Sackler name. Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond were all financially successful, but Arthur, as the eldest son, set the standard that his brothers would follow for the rest of their lives. He started working a myriad of jobs in high school at Erasmus. He sold ad space in the yearbook, he worked as the advertising manager of Drake Business School, and he handled the school photography. He juggled these jobs well, and as he moved through school, he passed his jobs on to his younger brothers.

Yet Arthur needed to work more as his father's fortunes continued to fall. He added a newspaper route, and he delivered flowers. He caught glimpses of what life was like for the monied and leisure classes, and he knew that he...