The results of Acrimoney’s Ruth Madoff poll are crystal clear. Ninety-four percent of our voters believe she helped orchestrate his $65 billion fraud. And 34 percent are ready to throw her in jail. Full disclosure: our methodology is not scientific.

Forget the Madoffs for a moment. Let’s examine a set of circumstances far more complex. Our story starts ten years ago:

A marriage fails. The couple splits, even though they share a daughter and more than twenty years together. The two spouses live separate lives, but they never divorce.

Acrimoney: Danger Will Robinson.

The husband sires four maybe five more children by three separate women. Within his circles, they are known as “outside wives.”

Acrimoney: No, this is a not an episode of Big Love.

The wife-of-record files for divorce, say two years ago. By state law she’s entitled to half the assets. The couple’s estate is worth billions.

The divorce proceedings play out during 2008. The two parties negotiate, back and forth, back and forth. Talk about acrimoney. They squabble over billions. Meanwhile, the husband has been living with one woman for seven years. He calls her, “His fiancé.”

Acrimoney: We promise this is not Big Love.

In early 2009, the unthinkable occurs. The Securities and Exchange Commission accuses the husband of a massive fraud, most likely a Ponzi scheme. He resists with vigor and vows to clear his name. Nonetheless, the SEC seizes billions in assets. The regulators insist on protecting investors as the fraud case works its way through the courts.

The wife-of-record says something like, “Not so fast. The law says I’m entitled to half those assets. It’s community property.”

What do you think? And here’s a twist—you don’t need to register to vote in this poll. We’ll report back next week with Part II, the conclusion of this developing story.

Thanks for visiting Acrimoney. Next week, we’ll feature a special guest.

Have a great weekend.

About the author

Norb Vonnegut wrote 178 articles on this blog.

Do you ever feel the financial news makes no sense? Do stories leave you with more questions than answers? I created Acrimoney to discuss Wall Street’s behavior behind the headlines. As a veteran of a wealth management business that exceeded $1 billion in assets, I offer insight into the people and the “doings” that affect your money. I’ll start the discussion. But I hope you’ll jump in and say what you think.

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