Back in 2008, the world seemed to suddenly plunge into panic as a domino effect of financial ruin rippled out from the United States and the risky and sometimes illegal moves of what were once considered financial leaders were laid bare.
While the factors, causes, and effects of this crisis are complicated, we've been able to get at least some sense of what happened due to stories like The Big Short.
And while stories like that revealed a great deal of corruption at the heart of the crisis, the fact that it was endemic to entire institutions made it hard to attach blame to any one person.
But due to the scope and duration of his own financial crimes and the timing of his downfall, 82-year-old Bernie Madoff is nonetheless a popular choice for the villain of the economic crisis.
And on April 14, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that he has died.