American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 1 Episode 1 Hook, Line and Sucker/Maxfield Parish Art Heist

American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals is a true crime series from CNBC that delves into some of the most compelling and outrageous financial crimes in American history. The first episode of season 1, "Hook, Line and Sucker/Maxfield Parish Art Heist," tells the story of two very different but equally audacious crimes.

The first half of the episode explores the exploits of Anthony Gignac, a self-professed Saudi prince and con artist who scammed his way through the Miami social scene for years. Gignac was a man of many aliases and many accents, but one thing was always constant: his insatiable hunger for luxury goods and the lifestyle that came with them. Gignac went to great lengths to create the illusion of wealth and status, from buying fake titles and uniforms to renting yachts and private jets. He even convinced several high-profile members of Miami's elite that he was a Saudi prince, earning free stays at luxury hotels, extravagant gifts, and access to exclusive parties.

But Gignac's greed eventually caught up with him, and in 2017 he was arrested for posing as a member of the Saudi royal family and defrauding investors of millions of dollars. The episode interviews law enforcement officials, journalists, and former victims of Gignac's scams to piece together the story of how this confidence man managed to worm his way into the circles of the rich and famous and live like a king.

The second half of the episode explores a different kind of heist: the theft of a priceless Maxfield Parrish mural from a New Hampshire hotel. Maxfield Parrish was a renowned American illustrator and painter who created some of the most iconic images of the early 20th century, including the famous "Daybreak" painting. In 1936, Parrish was commissioned to create a mural for the lobby of the Mount Washington Hotel, a grand resort in New Hampshire's White Mountains. The mural, which featured a stunning variety of colors and textures, was a hit with guests and became a beloved landmark of the hotel.

But in 1978, the mural was stolen in a brazen heist that shocked the art world. The episode delves into the details of the theft, which involved cutting the mural out of the wall and spiriting it away in the middle of the night. Despite a massive search effort and a reward of $20,000, the mural remained missing for over a decade. Finally, in 1991, the thief was caught and the mural was recovered, but not before it had been cut into pieces and partially destroyed.

The episode interviews art experts, historians, and law enforcement officials to piece together the story of this bizarre and audacious crime, and explores the significance of Parrish's art and his legacy in American painting. It's a fascinating exploration of two very different kinds of greed: the desperate need for validation and status that drove Gignac's scams, and the lust for money and power that motivated the thieves who stole Parrish's mural. Together, they paint a portrait of a country that's always been obsessed with wealth and the people who will go to any lengths to get it.