The Most Jaw-Dropping Scandals of the Century

1. Monica Lewinsky and President Bill Clinton

In 1998, the whole world was shocked to learn about then-president Bill Clinton’s affair with 22-year-old intern Monica Lewinsky. Dubbed as the biggest scandal of the century, their explicit sexual relationship became the talk of the town and was widely covered by international media.

2. Lehman Brothers’ Collapse

In 2008, Lehman Brothers, one of the biggest investment banks in Wall Street, filed for bankruptcy—a move that marked the beginning of a global financial crisis. The firm’s collapse was caused by its massive exposure to toxic debts, which it could not recover from, and subsequent failure to procure bailout support from the government.

3. Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme

Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme is one of the biggest financial frauds in U.S. history. Madoff, a prominent Wall Street trader, swindled billions of dollars from investors’ funds, which he then used to pay off other investors. The scheme collapsed in 2008, and Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison.

4. Lance Armstrong’s Doping Scandal

Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal not only tainted an already impressive career but also became one of the biggest scandals in sports history. Armstrong, who had been a dominant force in the cycling world, was stripped of his seven consecutive Tour de France wins and banned from competitive cycling for life after evidence emerged that he had been using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

5. Harvey Weinstein’s Sexual Assault Allegations

The Harvey Weinstein scandal can rightly be deemed a movement that shook the entertainment industry. In 2017, the New York Times broke the news that dozens of women, including prominent actresses, had been sexually assaulted by the powerful film producer at different intervals of his career. Weinstein was later convicted of sexual assault charges and sentenced to 23 years in prison.