Bernie Ebbers

Bernie Ebbers was the founder and CEO of WorldCom, a major telecommunications company. He was instrumental in growing the firm but became infamous for orchestrating one of the largest accounting frauds in U.S. history, inflating company assets by billions to meet financial targets. This deception collapsed the company in 2002, causing significant financial losses and eroding trust in corporate governance. Ebbers was convicted of conspiracy and fraud, sentenced to prison, and his actions highlighted the importance of transparency and ethical practices in business.