: an investment swindle in which some early investors are paid off with money put up by later ones in order to encourage more and bigger risks
Examples of Ponzi scheme in a Sentence
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At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Girardi’s law firm, Girardi Keese, was run like a Ponzi scheme, where clients’ settlements were misappropriated to cover other law firm debts or finance his lavish spending.
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Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Saylor responded to naysayers who call MicroStrategy’s bitcoin acquisition strategy a Ponzi scheme.
—Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2024
Shapiro, convicted in 2010 on federal charges of securities fraud and money laundering in New Jersey after overseeing a $930 million Ponzi scheme, was sentenced in 2011 to 20 years in prison.
—Michael Wilner, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
In 2009, Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty in connection with a Ponzi scheme that tanked the Mets’ payroll for years.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024
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Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Saylor responded to naysayers who call MicroStrategy’s bitcoin acquisition strategy a Ponzi scheme.
—Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2024
Shapiro, convicted in 2010 on federal charges of securities fraud and money laundering in New Jersey after overseeing a $930 million Ponzi scheme, was sentenced in 2011 to 20 years in prison.
—Michael Wilner, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
In 2009, Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty in connection with a Ponzi scheme that tanked the Mets’ payroll for years.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Ponzi scheme
Dictionary Entries Near Ponzi scheme
Cite this Entry
“Ponzi scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ponzi%20scheme. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
Ponzi scheme
noun
Pon·zi scheme
ˈpän-zē-ˌskēm 
: an investment swindle in which early investors are paid with sums obtained from later ones in order to create the illusion of profitability
Etymology
Charles A. Ponzi (ca. 1882–1949), Italian-born American swindler
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