The King of Oil by Daniel Ammann

The King of Oil by Daniel Ammann is a revealing biography of Marc Rich, the billionaire commodities trader whose extraordinary career transformed the international oil market and made him one of the most controversial businessmen of the twentieth century. Published by St. Martin’s Press in 2009, this hardcover edition explores Rich’s rise from a young refugee from Nazi-occupied Europe to one of the world’s most powerful and elusive oil traders.

The King of Oil examines Rich’s pioneering role in the development of the modern spot market for oil and his extensive international trading empire. His business dealings reached across the globe, involving oil, metals and other commodities and bringing him into contact with governments and political leaders in countries including Iran, Cuba, Angola and apartheid-era South Africa.

A significant part of the story concerns the controversial legal battle that followed Rich’s indictment in the United States on charges including tax evasion. He became an international fugitive, while American authorities pursued him for years. His eventual pardon by President Bill Clinton remains one of the most contentious episodes of his career and adds a remarkable political dimension to the biography.

Daniel Ammann had unusually extensive access to Rich, his family and associates, allowing him to explore both the public controversies and the private life of the enigmatic businessman. The book considers Rich’s childhood, his family’s escape from the Holocaust, his emergence as a commodities trader and the immense wealth and influence he subsequently accumulated.

The King of Oil is particularly interesting for readers concerned with international business, oil and commodities trading, political influence, taxation and the relationship between commerce and geopolitics. Ammann’s investigation also raises broader questions about the ethical boundaries of international capitalism and the way governments and corporations operate in politically unstable parts of the world.

For readers interested in Marc Rich, the global oil industry and the hidden history of international commodities trading, The King of Oil provides a fascinating account of one of the most secretive and influential businessmen of the modern era.

Condition: Very Good – Light foxing of front matter present.