ENRON

A visionary who thrived on risk, Skilling led a cut-throat team that employed ‘mark-to-market accounting,’ allowing the company to record potential profits on certain projects immediately after contracts were signed, regardless of the actual profits. With a Darwinian view of what makes the world work, Skilling believed that money and fear were the only things that motivated people.

Insiders note: Skilling was born in Pittsburgh. His family moved to New Jersey before settling in Illinois.

A promising young mind, Fastow joined Enron and quickly became Skilling’s protege who rose through the ranks to become the company’s CFO. Fastow designed a complex web of companies that solely did business with Enron, with the dual purpose of raising money for the company and hiding its massive losses in their quarterly balance sheets. One of his partnerships, LJM (named for his wife and two sons) made Fastow a staggering $45 million.

As the lone female lead, Christine Weber will portray Claudia Roe – a fictional character created by the brilliant mind of Lucy Prebble. A moral counterpoint, Roe consistently questions the ethical and financial validity of Skilling’s scheming ways. She goes head-to-head with Skilling for the position of CEO and gives him a run for his money.

Born in rural Missouri to a Baptist preacher, Ken Lay grew up in poverty – daydreaming about becoming rich. Thanks to the largest accounting scandal of the 20^th century, Lay became one of America’s highest-paid CEOs, collecting more than $220 million in cash and stocks between 1998 and 2001. A southern charmer, his friendly, folksy demeanor and humble upbringing were key to his public image as a self-made success story. His charisma was a significant factor in his ascent to power and his success in inspiring confidence in employees and investors.