Sam Bankman-Fried is a finance and cryptocurrency entrepreneur better known as the former CEO of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange, FTX.
According to reports, the 31-year-old was born on March 6, 1992, in California, and grew up in a highly educated family.
His parents are both professors at Stanford Law School, and their expertise, reputation and connections are suspected of having helped legitimize FTX.
Bankman-Fried graduated with a degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014 and began his professional career as a trader at Jane Street Capital.
He later earned a Master’s Degree in Development Management from the London School of Economics and worked as a Data Technology Consultant.
Bankman-Fried’s reputation quickly shifted from a white knight in the cryptocurrency community to villain status when it was found he was likely implicated in questionable trades that led investors to lose billions, in a type of operation that some have called a Ponzi scheme.
He now faces criminal fraud and conspiracy charges.

Sam Bankman-Fried religion
Bankman-Fried was raised in a Jewish family, but the specifics of his religious beliefs remain a private matter.
He tends to keep his religious beliefs and practices discreet, allowing his professional endeavors to take center stage.
While Bankman-Fried’s family background and cultural environment could play a significant role in shaping his ethical compass and overall worldview, his personal beliefs or religious affiliations are largely private.
However, he has embraced a vegan lifestyle, highlighting his dedication to a dietary choice that aligns with ethical considerations.
Bankman-Fried’s commitment to effective altruism and dedication to using his wealth to make a positive impact on the world sets him apart not only as a pioneering figure in the cryptocurrency industry but also as a philanthropist with a global vision.
Sam Bankman-Fried upbringing
Bankman-Fried grew up in a highly educated family and attended high school at Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, California.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2014 with a degree in physics and a minor in mathematics.
In the summer of 2013, he worked as an intern for New York-based Jane Street Capital, where he returned to the proprietary trading firm as a full-time employee after graduating.
Bankman-Fried’s parents were known for their involvement in liberal causes, and he grew up in a household where there was an ongoing conversation about what it means to conduct an ethical lifez
His parents recognized him as being intellectually exceptional and emotionally atypical, and he entertained himself with baseball statistics and math puzzles.
Bankman-Fried’s religious beliefs or affiliation have not been widely publicized or documented in available sources.
He co-founded and was the former CEO of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange, FTX.
Bankman-Fried has been involved in cryptocurrency and finance, and he has also been a donor to political campaigns and philanthropic causes.
He has been accused of engaging in fraud and embezzlement of customer deposits beginning in 2019, and spent those funds on personal expenses.
