The King of Oil

The King of Oil presents the first authorized biography of Marc Rich, the controversial commodities trader who revolutionized global oil markets. Based on extensive interviews with Rich himself, the book traces his path from Holocaust survivor to international fugitive and billionaire trader. Swiss journalist Daniel Ammann documents Rich's creation of the spot market for oil and his company's dealings with Iran, South Africa, Cuba, and other contentious regimes during the Cold War. The narrative covers Rich's legal troubles, including his indictment on 65 criminal counts and eventual presidential pardon by Bill Clinton. The book provides a detailed examination of the global oil trade's mechanics and political entanglements during the latter half of the 20th century. It includes insights from Rich's associates, critics, and government officials who pursued him. Through Rich's story, the book explores larger questions about morality in international business, the intersection of commerce and politics, and the true cost of energy security in the modern world.

Readers describe this as a rare glimpse into Marc Rich's secretive world through extensive interviews. The book reveals details about international oil trading, political connections, and Rich's controversial pardon. Readers appreciated: - Direct access to Rich through 30+ hours of interviews - Clear explanations of complex commodities trading - Balanced reporting without obvious bias - Inside details about Rich's business methods Common criticisms: - Too sympathetic to Rich - Lacks depth on certain controversial deals - Writing can be dry and technical - Some felt it read like PR for Rich Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (240+ ratings) "The access to Rich makes this worthwhile, but the author seems to accept his version of events too readily" - Goodreads reviewer "Great insights into commodities trading, though it glosses over some ethical issues" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Marc Rich made the largest trade deal in history at the time by purchasing over 100 million barrels of Iranian oil during the 1979 hostage crisis 🔹 Daniel Ammann secured unprecedented access to Marc Rich, conducting more than 30 hours of interviews over a year, making this the only biography authorized by Rich himself 🔹 The book reveals that Rich secretly worked with the Israeli Mossad while simultaneously trading with Iran, showcasing his complex role in international intelligence 🔹 After being pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2001, Marc Rich's case led to significant reforms in presidential pardon procedures 🔹 While fugitive in Switzerland, Rich's company continued to do billions in annual revenue, and he pioneered the "daisy chain" trading technique still used in commodity markets today