Ep 2. The Man at the Top

In the second episode of Dirty Money's second season, titled The Man at the Top, the show examines the downfall of Malaysian businessman Jho Low. Low had become one of the world's most powerful and influential people as a result of his ties to the Malaysian government and his involvement in the 1MDB scandal, a multibillion-dollar fraud involving the country's state-owned investment fund.

The episode begins in 2009, when Low first enters the public eye through his association with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Low quickly became a close confidant of Razak, and together they embarked on a massive spending spree that included the purchase of luxury properties all over the world, high-end art, and private jets. Around the same time, Low also founded a company called the PetroSaudi International, which became a major player in the oil and gas industry.

However, it was not long before Low's lavish lifestyle and shady business dealings began to raise eyebrows. In 2015, the Wall Street Journal published an investigative report that revealed the connection between 1MDB and a slew of luxury properties owned by Low and his associates. The report also revealed that Low had allegedly siphoned off at least $700 million from the state-owned investment fund.

The Malaysian government denied any wrongdoing, but the scandal continued to escalate. Low, realizing that his life was in danger, fled the country and went into hiding. He became the subject of an international manhunt, with authorities in several countries pursuing him for his alleged role in the scandal.

The episode follows Low's movements from his hiding place in China, where he continued to conduct business using a web of shell companies and frontmen. The show interviews several people who knew Low during this time, including his former business partner, who describes him as a master manipulator who could get anyone to do his bidding.

The episode also explores the extent of Low's influence in Hollywood, where he was known for throwing lavish parties attended by A-list celebrities. Low was involved in the production of the film The Wolf of Wall Street, which was financed in part with money from 1MDB. The episode interviews several people involved in the film, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese, who express shock and dismay at the revelations about Low's involvement in the scandal.

Throughout the episode, the show explores the way in which Low's immense wealth and power allowed him to evade justice and continue to operate with impunity. The Malaysian government eventually charged him in absentia with money laundering and other crimes, but Low remained at large. The episode also examines the role of the financial institutions that enabled the 1MDB scandal, including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank.

Ultimately, The Man at the Top is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of holding the wealthy and influential accountable for their actions. The episode paints a vivid portrait of Jho Low, a man who became a symbol of the excesses and corruptions of the global elite.