Bernard Madoff, a former investment banker and financier, died on April 14, 2021, at 82 years old. Madoff was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1938 and graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in accounting. In 1960, he founded Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC in New York City, and the firm quickly grew to become a market leader in the forex, options, and commodity markets. In 2008, Madoff's thousands of clients discovered that his investment returns were not actually generated from investment accounts. Instead, a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme had been operating for years. In 2009, Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison for felonies including securities fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Madoff continued to receive heavy criticism outside of the criminal justice system, with many of his victims - including Hollywood celebrities and charitable organizations - struggling to recover their losses. Madoff is survived by his wife and two sons. A private funeral and burial will be held for family and close friends.