Sam Bankman-Fried’s brother plans to buy the island and preparations for the apocalypse: court filings
Gabriel Bankman-Fried, the brother of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, has a plan to survive a global catastrophe by using funds from a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange.
According to a July 20 filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Gabriel plans to buy the Pacific island nation of Nauru using funds allegedly misappropriated through the FTX Foundation. The project with the charity – “which had little purpose other than to enhance Defendant’s public status,” according to court documents – included a $300,000 book grant on “human utility functions” as well as a $400,000 grant to YouTubers.
However, one of Gabriel Bankman-Fried’s plans includes preparing for a potential apocalypse by purchasing Naura, an island in northeastern Australia with a population of around 12,000 by 2023. According to a memo between Gabriel and an unnamed official from the FTX Foundation, he plans to set up a bunker to survive “an event where 50%-99.99% of people die. [to] ensure that most of the EA [effective altruists] survival” and build a laboratory focused on “human genetic improvement”.
“There may be other useful things to do with sovereign nations as well,” the memo said, referring to the planned acquisition.
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Prior to FTX’s collapse in November 2022, Gabriel Bankman-Fried had founded Guarding Against Pandemics, a nonprofit aimed at preparing for the next COVID-19. He has reportedly stepped down from his position as the organization’s executive director amidst the crypto exchange’s bankruptcy.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s first criminal trial in the United States has been scheduled for October 2, where he faces charges including fraud related to the mix-up of funds between FTX and Alameda Research. It’s unclear whether Gabriel will testify against his brother, but debtors in the FTX bankruptcy case have considered subpoenaing him to provide information about the financial gains he may receive from the exchange.
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