Ruth Madoff to Bernie: 'What's a Ponzi Scheme?'

Imperial Bernie created misery all around him

(NEWSER) - A new book about Bernie Madoff's family is hitting bookstores tomorrow and depicting a miserable, greedy, vain clan of epic proportions. Here are highlights from the New York Post 's rundown of Truth and Consequences, by Laurie Sandell with cooperation from Ruth Madoff and her son Andrew:

• Bernie. A neat freak who dominated Ruth, he fooled around on her for 16 years and sexually harassed the wives and girlfriends of both his sons. With one sitting close enough to hear, he complimented her body but remarked that "she could have been heavier on top."

She finally cuts it off after 52 years to reconcile with surviving son

(NEWSER) - After 52 years of marriage, Bernard Madoff's wife is finally calling it quits. Ruth Madoff, 70, hasn't seen her 73-year-old hubby for more than 8 months, reports the Daily Mail. She's cutting ties with Madoff in an effort to reconcile with her remaining son, Andrew, and her late son's family, say sources. Son Mark committed suicide late last year on the second anniversary of his dad's arrest for massive fraud, and Ruth was turned away from his memorial by his distraught widow. More»

It was apparently her punishment for choosing Bernie over boys

(NEWSER) - Ruth Madoff mourned alone after her son Mark committed suicide , sources tell People. She flew from Florida to Connecticut for the memorial service, but was turned away by Mark’s wife, the New York Post reports. A friend says Ruth’s sons wanted her to choose between them and disgraced husband Bernie when his Ponzi scheme was discovered, and she initially chose them—but later returned to Bernie’s side, and was subsequently out of their lives. More»

Family thinks Bernie may not 'survive this'

(NEWSER) - In Ruth Madoff's eyes, the death of son Mark is all husband Bernie's fault. "Her wrath is aimed at her husband," a Madoff biographer tells the New York Post , citing family friends. He adds that Ruth is "totally disgusted with" Bernie and "thinks this is the end of the family." Mark Madoff hanged himself exactly two years after his father's arrest. The family doesn't think Bernie is "going to survive this," the biographer adds. More»

Irving Picard sues, again, for money

(NEWSER) - The court-appointed trustee seeking to recover billions of dollars lost by Bernie Madoff is suing for $30 million that he says the Madoff family invested in oil, gas, and tech, reports the AP . The suit filed by trustee Irving Picard says the investments were used as vehicles to funnel money out of Madoff's business, and comes as a follow-up to the lawsuit he filed in November seeking nearly $200 million from Madoff family members who he said lived lavishly while using the family business like a "piggy bank." More»