SNAFU with Ed Helms Rory Scovel and Arbitrage on Wall Street
Mar 18, 2026
Rory Scovel, stand-up comedian and actor known for specials and the Crimeless podcast, adds sharp humor and personal reactions. He and Ed dive into Ivan Boesky’s rise via arbitrage, his public persona and infamous greed speech. They trace the scandal, prosecutions, and lasting fallout. Conversations turn to accountability, ambition, and the human cost of high finance.
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Boesky's Rise From Detroit To Park Avenue
- Ivan Boesky rose from modest Detroit roots, married into wealth, and repeatedly pushed himself with extreme routines like hundreds of push-ups and almost no sleep.
- He failed at a rebranded family bar, then used his father-in-law's Park Avenue backing to launch a Wall Street career.
Boesky Publicly Praised Greed
- Boesky publicly promoted greed as healthy and gave speeches that inspired Gordon Gekko's 'greed is good' ethos, even writing a book called Merger Mania.
- His self-promotion included PR, a grin-on-cover book, and high-profile trustee roles.
Arbitrage Is Timing Not Belief
- Arbitrage focuses on timing, not company loyalty, buying temporarily underpriced stocks before takeovers and selling once the price corrects.
- Ivan Boesky built fortune by spotting takeover signals and making fast, large bets rather than long-term investments.
