Bad Boys of Bankruptcy: S2E1: From Mortgage Mogul to Fugitive: The Rise and Fall of Darren Berg

Darren Berg started as a mortgage broker but then found himself orchestrating a $150 million Ponzi scheme. He diverted funds into a lavish lifestyle—owning multiple mansions, yachts, and a luxury bus company. When the fraud unraveled, bankruptcy proceedings led to significant legal battles, shaping Oregon’s fraudulent transfer law in the process. But Berg’s downfall didn’t end in prison—he pulled off a daring escape, fleeing custody and vanishing into Brazil. Judge Gunn, Mark Calvert, and Michael Gearan discuss Berg’s rise and fall, the legal aftermath, and the lingering question: will he ever be caught?