Daniel Ammann

Daniel Ammann is a Swiss journalist and author best known for his investigative biography "The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich" published in 2009. The book provided unprecedented access to the reclusive commodities trader Marc Rich and became an authoritative account of Rich's controversial business dealings and personal life. As a financial journalist, Ammann served as business editor and deputy editor-in-chief of the Swiss weekly Die Weltwoche. His work has focused extensively on investigating complex financial transactions, international commodities trading, and the operations of major trading houses. Ammann conducted over 100 hours of personal interviews with Marc Rich over a two-year period to write "The King of Oil," making him one of the few journalists to gain extensive direct access to the notorious businessman. The resulting biography shed new light on Rich's role in establishing modern oil trading markets and his controversial pardon by President Bill Clinton in 2001. His investigative work has been cited in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Reuters. Beyond his writing on Marc Rich, Ammann has written extensively about international business, finance, and commodities trading for Swiss and international media outlets.

Readers consistently note Ammann's detailed research and unprecedented access to Marc Rich in "The King of Oil." Many praise his balanced portrayal and clear explanation of complex commodities trading concepts. What readers liked: - Deep investigative reporting with primary sources - Clear breakdown of oil trading mechanics - Neutral tone in covering controversial topics - Rich's direct quotes and personal insights What readers disliked: - Technical financial details overwhelming for general readers - Some found the chronology hard to follow - Several note it could have delved deeper into Rich's personal life - A few readers wanted more analysis of ethical implications Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 from 1,248 ratings Amazon: 4.3/5 from 391 reviews One reader called it "the definitive account of modern oil trading's origins," while another praised how it "demystifies complex trading schemes without sensationalism." Critical reviews mainly focused on the dense financial content, with one noting it "reads like a business school case study at times."

The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich (2009) A detailed biography of commodities trader Marc Rich based on over 100 hours of personal interviews, documenting his business operations, legal troubles, and eventual presidential pardon.

Tom Bower covers high-profile business figures through exhaustive investigative reporting, particularly in his biographies of Richard Branson and Bernie Ecclestone. His research methods and access to sources parallel Ammann's deep-dive approach to Marc Rich.

William D. Cohan writes about complex financial dealings and Wall Street power players based on extensive insider interviews. His books on Goldman Sachs and Lazard Frères examine the intersection of wealth, power, and controversial business practices.

Ben Mezrich investigates true stories of business mavericks operating in legal gray areas, focusing on their rise and controversial dealings. His work on the Winklevoss twins and Facebook shares Ammann's interest in documenting transformative business figures.

Bryan Burrough specializes in detailed corporate histories and investigations of business scandals through comprehensive source work. His book "The Big Rich" examines oil traders and energy tycoons in ways that complement Ammann's exploration of Marc Rich's oil empire.

Peter Schweizer focuses on investigating hidden financial dealings and relationships between business and politics. His examination of political influence and corporate power draws parallels to Ammann's work on Marc Rich's political connections and pardoning.