High Stakes

High Stakes was written while author Nigel Goldman was in prison. It is a book about greed, the chances and opportunities afforded to him in life, and about how seeking the ultimate win led him to experience extremes of lifestyle. The book takes us on a roller coaster ride, beginning with his wheeling and dealing at public school and the formation of his first business, which subsequently folded due to his compulsive gambling. After escaping the UK for America in an attempt to evade creditors, there followed three years of hectic trading on the New York Commodity Exchange, which culminated in a windfall profit. Following this fortuitous upturn in finances, Goldman then returned to the UK and founded a new company but soon became involved in a highly publicised multi-million pound VAT fraud trial. Although he was dramatically cleared of this crime, he was soon to spend a short spell in prison for an unrelated fraud misdemeanour. Upon his release, Goldman set up yet another business venture that brought with it the luxuries of expensive cars, exotic travel, flamboyancy and lucrative racehorse ownership. After drilling oil wells dry on and off for over 15 years, the sum of Goldman's w