Martin Shkreli has tangled with many dangerous people over the years; Wu Tang Clan, Jim Cramer, the SEC, etc., but we are just today learning that he once drew the ire of a true Original Gangster and we find ourselves shocked that Shkrels is so lucky as to merely be serving time in a federal prison.
From Whitney Tilson’s most recent letter to investors:
The Take ‘Em To School charity poker tournament that’s taking place this evening reminds me of a story I’ve never shared publicly. Martin Shkreli – yes, the now-infamous scumbag who’s serving a seven-year prison sentence for fraud – bought a $10,000 table for the event in July 2012. He had a great time with nine of his friends… but then stiffed us when we sent him the bill, ignoring all of our collection attempts.
Wow. Martin has nine friends?
But also, “Scumbag”? DAMN! Not many men have messed with Whitney Tilson and survived. This man came up in animal factories like The Northfield Mt Herman School, and Harvard. He is not someone with whom one should trifle, son…
When I first learned about this five months later, I was pissed. I’d never heard of Shkreli – he wasn’t infamous yet – but I checked him out and he already had a bad reputation, so on December 19 I sent him the most threatening e-mail I’ve ever sent anyone: