Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Creative accountancy
They were motivated only by money and seemingly prepared to go to any lengths to get it. They regarded accountancy as a creative skill and test of ingenuity, disregarding the fundamental principle that figures have to add up. Their big idea was to declare their company's market value based on earnings it could potentially make in a few years rather than the money it was actually making at the time. Or, in other words, they announced whatever profits they fancied.

Holding California to ransom
By the year 2000, they had the ear of US President George Bush (who famously called Lay "Kenny boy") and the ability to hold America's richest state California to ransom. And ransom California they did, making use of the deregulated system they had lobbied for to limit supply and hike up energy prices.

Among the many chilling recordings from inside the corporation are taped conversations between Enron traders laughing at the victims of the consequent power outages, the fact that they are turning the lights out on "Grandma Millie" and then sticking the high "prices right up her ass". Another declares: "Let them use candles”.