The Baron of Wall Street: Clarence Dillon and the Making of the Modern Financial World

The definitive biography of one of the most influential and innovative figures in the history of American finance who revolutionized Wall Street and whose story reads like a real-life Great Gatsby

J.P. Morgan. John D. Rockefeller. Charles E. Mitchell. These are some of the most prominent icons of wealth and influence during the Roaring Twenties. Yet the one figure who has strangely escaped notice all these years is an enigmatic banker by the name of Clarence Dillon. In the dazzling 1920s, as he rose in wealth and influence, Dillon became one of the original behind-the-scenes players in Hollywood, and his contact list included everyone from Thomas Edison to Charlie Chaplin and Joseph P. Kennedy to FDR.

Like many great figures in history, Dillon’s personality was complex and contradictory: he could be utterly ruthless and cold-blooded, yet he was also sophisticated and elegant. This immensely influential man left a lasting mark on the history of finance in America. Yet, strangely, he eluded the close attention of biographers and historians—until now.

A revolutionary in finance, Clarence Dillon single-handedly:

• Created modern bankruptcy law
• Pioneered leveraged buyouts
• Invented junk bonds
• Engineered some of the biggest mergers and acquisitions ever seen

This first-ever complete inside look at Dillon and his life will fill a void in how we view the wild excesses of the Roaring Twenties, and how we understand the increasingly complex nexus between Wall Street and political power in our own time. The Baron of Wall Street is a vivid, novelistic account of Wall Street’s most formative years and its transformation through one dynamic and influential player in the financial world, highlighting his significant role in shaping US foreign policy today.