This man killed his family and destroyed thousands. A true tragedy. I am so sorry for all his victims

I totally believe Ruth. My father was the same. Never discussed anything with my mother when it came to money. Wives of that generation didn't ask questions.

Andrew died of cancer in 2014 aged 48. I believe this was brought on by all the emotional grief. Poor Ruth even more loss and grief losing another son ; (

She married the man at 18, practically a child herself. They grew up together. He was all she knew. I always thought she was treated a bit harshly for not immediately cutting ties with him. It wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Odd story about the attempted suicide though. Rather than writing their sons letters of apology or love they just sent them a bag of jewels in the mail with no explanation. Shows the role that material things played in their lives.

They might not have gone to jail, but Ruth and the kids paid a heavy price anyway.

Betrayal is one of the most complex and difficult emotions to get through. Betrayal from romantic partner is traumatizing. Can you imagine such betrayal from your own father???

My heart goes out to Ruth. Her sons made her choose, and they should have let her remain in contact with him. He was in prison for life and unable to do any more harm. She was with him her entire life since 18 she was as traumatized as anyone. I pray the victims are fully restored financially as well.

I've watched this so many times. Ruth's account of events is so compelling.

Andrew sounds so disappointed with his dad. I do say I believe him, he sounds sincere and doesn't ask for forgiveness for his father's crimes.

This is just so incredibly sad. Ruined lives and victims everywhere…So many people lost so much.

She came from a time in history when women became dedicated wives. She strikes me as a woman who relied solely on her husband. So one can understand how she continued to support him after he was arrested. Hope she’s living a more peaceful life now.

The comments on here are not what I expected....they're one of those rare occasions when I'm not disgusted by society. I also found the family to be credible and feel bad for what he put them through. An all around terrible situation. As always, a great interview by Morley Safer; he was a very good journalist.

Nobody asks questions when the money is abundant

Why would anyone doubt him back then. He was knighted by the folks who were supposed to watch over him. 🙄

A year later and this is by far still my favorite video…

I’m very sorry that Andrew and Mark passed away. Thinking of their children and Ruth.

I have no sympathy for the Patriarch of this family, but Ruth’s thinking, my pop worked the same job for 30 years and took care of the family bills, and I know my mom has zero clue what the internet bill costs per month and what exactly he did at his job. The reporter saying “people can’t believe”, I can absolutely believe their story. When the family patriarch can be described as a bully, you learn to only ask what you absolutely need to know about.

The worst part was Madoff was so unbelievably arrogant and unremorseful.

I too was ruined and robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars by my husband, who I trusted. I had no idea what a thief he was until after I divorced him, and had to dispose of property he'd stolen while we were married. It is possible to be married and have no idea about a spouse's activities. I empathize with the family here... it happened to me, on a smaller scale.

I just finished watching the Netflix 4 part series. It's actually super sad. Everyone around Bernie, not just those who "invested" were devastated. Mark committee suicide. Andrew died of cancer in 2014. Thierry a big investor also killed himself. Ruth is still alive but was stripped of almost all the remaining $70 million left. It's just eye opening to see the devastation. Bernie died in 2021.

They were kept in the dark by comfort and ease

Mrs. Madoff was a beautiful young woman. I believe her and I believe her son.

Just learned that Andrew passed from cancer in 2014. This woman could not have gone through more heartache Everyone she loved everything she had gone…

I really feel for Mark and Andrew. Stay strong for the loved ones and ones who love you in the situation.

Madoff destroyed his whole family. So sad.

Serial killers live double lives. Plenty of people never know about their spouses crime. It's not hard to believe they didn't know.

I could listen to her speak all day. So gentle and dignified.

I never thought the Madoff family were completely innocent of knowledge of Bernie’s crimes until I saw this. The wife was just plain ignorant, but the boys knew nothing, that much is clear. Andrew has the look of a man who has had the soul ripped out of him. He answered every question without hesitation, a quiet rage caused by his fathers unbelievable crime and the devastating fall-out still burns deep within.

I feel really bad how this families story turned out all because of greed. Truly heartbreaking.

He was the most trusted con-man of all time ($65 billion), so it's fairly understandable that said super con-man could even fool his own family for 15 years or so.

Michelle Pfieffer really nailed her portrayal of Ruth Madoff in the HBO movie. I actually feel a little sorry for Ruth.

I think her response of " I would've left...can't say I would've turned him in "....was a very honest answer

Katherine should not be able to profit from the book as well. It should all be donated.

I believe that she had no idea what her husband did. I had no idea what my husband did when I was a stay at home mom.

What an inmense tragedy .RIP the 2 sons.

RIP Mark & Andrew. ❤

Mardoff was an authority in the industry trusted by all and sundry and just how many people know exactly what their parents and spouses are doing in the office ???

Ruth, is a loyal Soul. Really sad that her son couldn’t cope with and ended his own life. Never harm yourself. ❤️

I am impressed by his humility,and honesty poor son

Who I really feel bad for are Andrew and Mark. Andrew was a man of true integrity for holding his dad accountable and my heart breaks for his fiance. He even left over 5 million to his estranged wife... in my eyes, that shows that this man really was a beautiful soul. Possibly the only good thing Bernie did was having a son with as much integrity as Andrew (and Mark)

Wow I was just reading the last son Andrew died from cancer. Probably created by the stress. Both sons gone, how sad for Ruth. Hope she finds some peace.

Since this clip, Andrew has died from cancer. Horrendous what this man did to his family.

I don't think she knew, but the devastating loss she's had to live through is so much worse than a life sentance even if she was aware of what he was up to... heartbreaking, seems like a lovely family

She dated him since she was 18 years old in 1959, how worldly is an 18 year old girl in 1959?....she was naive and she probably didn't question anything he did. Why would she question their good fortune? She didn't wonder why they were super wealthy, she had a big-shot successful husband, nice sons, a great life.

What an unbelievably sad story. I think that Madoff's wife and two sons were completely innocent and unaware of Madoff's crimes. And especially sad for Ruth Madoff - both her sons are gone now and she has nothing to show for a life completely destroyed by one man.

Beautifully produced piece, really crazy stuff

Your content is amazing - no interruptions, no tipping callouts, cogent expert commentary. You do amazing work.

I feel most sorry for their sons who were innocent of most of this

Intense! Andrew and Ruth M. come off as credible. You can feel Andrew's searing rage against his father.

Ruth sounds like a heavy smoker.

May God be with her now. May she have a new life..

Heartbreaking for the family and victims. How could anyone believe they knew or blame the sons when they turned their own father in? Ruth breaks my heart to this day.

I think it’s clear they ALL felt things were a little “too good” and “oddly secretive”.

When the cast of "Wizard of Lies" said that they were convinced Ruth had not known about the criminality of her husband I was surprised. Having watched this interview I have come to agree with them.

I feel bad for Ruth... finding out her husband swindled people and losing a son to cancer and another to suicide. I believe they were unaware and even Bernie's secretary said the sons weren't allowed on the other floor...that's where the crimes were happening

This is a sad interview I don’t know how someone could do this to so many people ruined their lives

Sending Blessings, I know what it’s like to have a parent betray u

I feel so sorry for the family. I don't know how a father could hurt his family so bad. Greed is satanic a act.

If you read his son's suicide note it will send a chill up your spine. They clearly didn't know.

No remorse or even an apology for the victims. The wife was asked about it and gave a cursory answer and moved on. Even if you were unaware, you would apologize and feel remorse as these crimes came from your family. The entire piece was how it affected them.

Most people don't understand how overpowering greed can be. It can totally consume you.

So sad, both sons dead, Bernie died in prison. Ruth must feel so alone. Greed is disgusting, i hope his victims were able to be reimbursed.

I don't believe they knew.

his family believed what millions of other investors did: he was a trading genius of legendary proportions.

I didn't really appreciate the "Everyone is going to think...." questions because I hadn't thought any of them. It's COMPLETELY plausible that his wife knew nothing of his schemes. And the sons were shut out from their Dad's business so I believe Andrew.

I lost my brother tragically in March 15 2008, it’s devastating. This I know.

So sad what he did, I really hope Ruth has peace in her last years on this earth ! People should leave this family alone now 😢

The SEC should be held 75% responsible for this whole debacle. They should have known and protected the public.

That was such a great interview. I never knew much about the family of BM but I found them to be genuine. They've got a lot to heal from and I wish them well.

I am a victim of Madoff , but I feel some sorrow for the Son. V sad

It breaks 💔 my heart how I can be so full of judgment sometimes... I truly believe them... God bless and I'm sorry for the loss of your brother and that you had to lose your father in such a way...

I absolutely believe Ruth & feel for her. My God what she’s been through at her age.

Honestly, I started watching this video with a very harsh opinion of the family - I ended thinking something quite different. This family was as surprised as everyone - you can see the absolutely pain and shame in their eyes.

I remember when this scandal broke. Fifteen years really does fly

“I wouldn’t say that we sort of explicitly discussed values” that really says a lot, right there. My family explicitly discussed values often. And now that I’m married, my husband and I discuss our values explicitly and often. Your values affect your life every day. Obviously this is not the fault of the the Madoff children. I just can’t imagine raising children and not making the discussion of values a regular priority. That’s so sad.

Madoff's wife is sure isn't remorseful. She got a free billionaire life and walks away still being rich. It's nothing to her.

I don’t think his family had anything to do with it. They seem like good people. A lot of people lead double lives and deceive their family for years. Look at the serial killers…no one ever knew.

He fooled the whole world and it makes sense he fooled his family too....

Having worked in family businesses, I absolutely believe that his sons didn’t know and were told this. 5:53

My ♥️ heart really really goes out to Ruth And Andrew he passed away from mantle cell lymphoma RIP 🙏✡️Andrew Madoff 1966-2014✡️ his oldest Son Mark Madoff took his life 2 years to the day of his arrest in 2010 while his wife Stephanie Was on vacation with there 4 yr old daughter Audrey at Disney Orlando ,there 2 yr old son Nicolas was asleep in his crib with there family Dog was sleeping in the room with him too, she left an email for his wife saying please come get Nick as soon as possible. He said I love you to his wife and the email she called her father-in-law who lived in New York City. Can you please go over and check on Mark he went inside their loft in Soho, and found him hanging by a dog leash from a beam will the two year old of the dog were in another room with the door shut, unaware of anything I’m glad they didn’t have to see that truly heartbreaking. His son was so shattered. He just felt like he couldn’t recover. My heart goes out to Stephanie and her two children, Audrey and Nicholas I’m so sorry that you had to go through this and I feel sorry for Ruth because she didn’t know she was just a wife you know she’s been with him since she was well. She met him when she was 13 she got married to him when she was 18 and that’s all she knew was this man, her whole life imagine the shock that she felt the life that she had was all fake. It’s just a horrible thing all just terrible her husband’s dead her two sons have passed away and she’s by herself. I think she’s living with her older son’s former wife in Connecticut. I just feel sad for her . Can you imagine? 🙏✡️✡️💟♥️

Some people can get away with anything. That said, Madoff wasn't the first or the last to rip off people and lie their way to worldly "success." But I believe in forgiveness as hard as it can be to do.

It must be hard being Ruth right now. She lost everything literally overnight

The sons wife seem quite prepared to say we were not involved and I'm nice person

My heart truly hurt for his sons. I'm thoroughly convinced that they had no idea what their father was doing. I truly admire how they immediately sought a lawyer for themselves and completely cut their father out of their lives within hours of their father's confession. I hate that Mark felt that suicide was his only option in the end. Now, Andrew is gone as well. I also feel bad for Ruth. She's all alone now. Bernie not only destroyed multiple families around the world, he even destroyed his own family.

People like Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes have an incredible ability to lie to themselves. They really don't believe that they are doing anything wrong.

It is hard for Madoff's wife to justify staying under his spell after the truth came out. Her sons may have survived if she was able to see him for who he was. Madoff is a high IQ sociopathic narcissist and probably married her in-part due to her loyalty and manipulability, which he exploited even in prison. She was totally duped and must be in anguish now. Rest in Peace to Andrew and Mark Madoff, they did not deserve this terrible fate.

Rest in Peace both brothers!!

He was greedy. His rich investors were greedy too. As someone of the working-class who has to work until I am 67, I have sympathy for none of them.

I don't feel that Mark or Andrew should have had to pay anything back or sell any possessions, I do feel that their mom should have had to forfeit everything that was acquired during the marriage. Clothes, furniture, houses, jewelry, cars, antiques, china, art, etc., basically anything that could be used to give the victims some bit of restitution. The high life this family lived, was paid for by all of the families that were swindled out of their money. Even if she didn't know, she certainly benefited from her husband's crimes. She certainly didn't deserve to keep ANY of that $10 million. Legal fees be damned. Refute all of your worldly possessions, give back the money you were trying to hide and you can have a public defender. Madoff stole from people and then used their money to pay for his legal defense when charged with the crimes he was more than guilty of. Talk about slapping your victims in the face with your entitlement.

Ruth is doing very well for herself, she's now living in a $4.4 million beachfront property in Old Greenwich, Connecticut with her daughter in law. While she inherited 2M.

...for whatever its worth, i think the family is telling the truth...

You can never have too much money. Greed, in the end, will burn you.

so much pain in her eyes....his too. I believe them..

Ruth said, 'I don't think I ever knew anybody that went to prison.' Imagine what kind of privileged life she's led.

wow how sad, one son commits suicide in 2010 and then 4 years later the other one dies of cancer. I'm so sorry for this lady :(

I believe these people. Super sad story.

I think his wife stated to the court that she wanted to hold on to the penthouse they had in NYC. REALLY!!!

That would be a big red flag to me if there was no plan for what to do with his business when he died.

I’m finding it hard to have empathy for the wife. She bailed him out! I’m really struggling with her.

I 100% believe that his wife and the 2 sons didn’t have a clue. The sons were not allowed in Madoff top investors. He took their innocence and both boys death lies in his hands.