The Most Famous Grifter, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the grifter you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 07:07

Throughout history, individuals known for their deceptive skills have often left a mark on society, challenging our perceptions of trust and cunning. A ranking of the most famous grifters can provide insights into the complex interplay of ethics and charisma that defines their legacies. Such a list not only sheds light on the personal tactics they used but also illustrates the broader social and historical impact of their actions. By participating in voting for the most renowned grifters, users contribute to a collective assessment of these intriguing figures. This interactive process not only enhances understanding of past deceptions but also engages in an ongoing dialogue about the nature of influence and manipulation. The outcome of these votes continuously updates, reflecting new opinions and discussions sparked among the community.

Who Is the Most Famous Grifter?

1

66
votes
Frank_Abagnale.jpg: Marcus JB derivative work: SoWhy · CC BY 2.0

Frank Abagnale

Frank William Abagnale Jr.

He is known for impersonating a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, and for forging checks worth millions of dollars. His life was the inspiration for the movie "Catch Me If You Can".
Frank Abagnale is a former con artist and forger who posed as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer during the 1960s. He is considered one of the most notorious impostors in history.

Aliases: Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams

Birthdate: April 27, 1948

Nationality: American

Crimes: Check fraud, forgery, impersonation

Years Active: 1964-1970
Frank Abagnale in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular fraudsters
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous money launderer
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous thief of all time
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous Ponzi scheme
- Position 9 of 10 in Most famous snitch
2

42
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Bernie Madoff

Bernard Madoff

He is notorious for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of billions of dollars. He is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence.
The Bernie Madoff fraud was a massive Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernard Madoff, an American financier and former chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange. Madoff's fraudulent activities spanned several decades, eventually leading to one of the largest financial frauds in history.

Duration: Several decades

Amount of fraud: Estimated $65 billion

Victims: Thousands of individual investors, financial institutions, and charities

Operational period: Approximately 1960s to 2008

Method: Ponzi scheme
Bernie Madoff in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular fraudsters
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous con artist
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous liar
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous cheater
3

32
votes
Page from a 1935 Philadelphia newspaper · Public domain

Victor Lustig

He is known for selling the Eiffel Tower for scrap metal twice and for various other scams. He is considered one of the greatest con artists of all time.
Victor Lustig in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous con artist
4

26
votes
The original uploader was Mgreason at English Wikipedia. · Public domain

Charles Ponzi

Charles Ponzi

He is the namesake of the Ponzi scheme, which is a fraudulent investment scheme that pays returns to earlier investors using the capital of newer investors. He swindled investors out of millions of dollars.
The Charles Ponzi scheme is a type of investment fraud in which a non-existent investment opportunity is promised to investors, with returns obtained from using funds received from subsequent investors. The creator of this scheme was Charles Ponzi, an Italian-born swindler. Ponzi's scheme gained notoriety in the early 20th century and has since become synonymous with fraudulent investment schemes.

Origin: Developed in the early 20th century

Promised returns: High returns in a short period of time

Source of returns: Obtained from subsequent investors' funds

Non-existent investment: No actual legitimate investment opportunity

Pyramid structure: Dependent on recruiting new investors
Charles Ponzi in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular fraudsters
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous Ponzi scheme
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous con artist
5

14
votes

Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

John Brinkley

He was a doctor who claimed to have a cure for impotence and infertility. He performed fraudulent surgeries and sold ineffective remedies, making millions of dollars.
6

6
votes
Robert Hendy-Freegard

He pretended to be an MI5 agent and convinced several people to work for him for free. He also tricked a woman into believing that she was being targeted by terrorists, causing her to go into hiding for years.
Robert Hendy-Freegard in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous jewel thief
7

12
votes

Ferdinand Waldo Demara

He was a master of impersonation and assumed the identities of a doctor, a prison warden, a monk, and a teacher, among others. He was the inspiration for the movie "The Great Impostor".
8

9
votes

Aaron Robert Kathman · CC BY-SA 4.0

Rachel Dolezal

She pretended to be a black woman and became the president of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, Washington. Her deception was exposed in 2015 and she was widely criticized for cultural appropriation.
9

6
votes

State of New Jersey (https://www.state.nj.us/nj/legal.html) · Copyrighted free use

Anna Delvey

She posed as a wealthy German heiress and swindled her way into New York City's elite social scene. She was eventually arrested and convicted of multiple counts of grand larceny.
10

7
votes

Frank_Abagnale.jpg: Marcus JB derivative work: SoWhy · CC BY 2.0

Frank William Abagnale Jr.

He is the same person as #1 on this list, but his full name is included here for clarity.

Missing your favorite grifter?

Graphs

Discussion

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous grifter. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or grifter is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

4476 views
209 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each grifter once every 24 hours. The rank of each grifter is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous grifter

Grifting is a form of fraud that involves tricking people for financial gain. The practice has been around for centuries, and has been depicted in popular culture through movies and TV shows such as "The Sting" and "Catch Me If You Can". While grifters come in all shapes and sizes, there are a few that have become particularly infamous for their schemes. From Frank Abagnale Jr. to Anna Sorokin, the world has seen its fair share of grifters who have left a lasting impact on society. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the most famous grifters of all time and explore the details of their fraudulent activities.