Empire of Pain

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The Sackler name is synonymous with wealth and philanthropy, gracing institutions like Harvard and the Louvre. However, their fortune stems from a blockbuster painkiller that ignited the opioid crisis. This narrative follows three brothers—Raymond, Mortimer, and the dynamic Arthur—who overcame the Great Depression and rampant anti-Semitism. Arthur, working in a mental institution, pioneered drug treatments and excelled in pharmaceutical marketing, creating the first Sackler fortune through Valium. He later acquired Purdue Frederick, managed by Raymond and Mortimer, leading to a life of luxury for their families. Decades later, Raymond's son Richard took the helm at Purdue, employing Arthur's marketing strategies—co-opting doctors and influencing the FDA—to launch OxyContin. This drug generated $35 billion but also triggered a public health crisis with countless fatalities. The saga spans three generations, from early 20th-century Brooklyn to opulent residences in Greenwich and Cap d'Antibes, and the power corridors of Washington, D.C. The account delves into the Sacklers' legal battles and tactics to evade accountability, revealing a family history filled with drama, disputes, and Machiavellian maneuvers. This work is a masterful exploration of America's second Gilded Age, exposing the greed and indifference that fueled one of the world's great fortunes.