Everyone Wanted to Get Rich Fast
The years leading up to Ponzi’s arrival in the U.S. were a true time of change. WWI had just ended, and people felt it was time to get rich and enjoy life to the fullest. As a consequence, the concept of money changed dramatically. It was no longer for the well-born. It was for everyone to reach out and grab. It was to be made fast, easy, and in large quantities.
Charles Ponzi circa 1920. Photo by Bettmann / Getty Images
The newspapers at the time were filled with stories of brave entrepreneurs, young women marrying rich men, and poor people becoming rich overnight after inheriting their family’s fortune. Such a climate allowed promoters of “get rich” schemes to work their magic and fool the public by selling them outrageous dreams that anyone could become a millionaire.