Weekly newsletter delving into the secret worlds of money and power.
Steve Wynn, Chinese Agent
The Justice Department has just sued Stephen Wynn, the American casino mogul, for failing to register as an agent of China's government. Sounds confusing? Well, let us walk you through this complicated (and bonkers) matter. The story starts with Jho Low, the fugitive Malaysian fraudster (of course it does!). Back
Who will be the Crown Prince?
Few monarchies in the world are of true relevance. The British House of Windsor is more a source of tourism dollars than a repository of real power. Spain's House of Bourbon is a mess. But in the Middle East, royals hold undeniable power and their personalities have lasting impacts on
Non-Fiction Friday: Books to Read
With the weekend bearing down, here are some great new nonfiction book recommendations for you, dear reader. I'm starting off with Dead in the Water, which is part whodunnit and part investigation into the dark recesses of shipping. In the masterful hands of Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel, journalists from
Returning Home After Occupation
We are extremely proud to present to you Project Brazen's first documentary project, which was filmed in Ukraine this spring alongside the recording of our podcast series RESISTANCE [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/project-brazen-originals/id1585848867]. In this 18-minute short documentary, you'll see some of the first footage of the
Heartbreak of Christopher Ahn
For the last three years, I've been following the extraordinary story of Adrian Hong and his underground organization, Free Joseon, which is dedicated to taking down the North Korean regime and helping high-profile defectors escape. (The story is the subject of my new book THE REBEL AND THE KINGDOM [https:
'Resistance: Stories from Ukraine': A New Project Brazen Original
Today, Project Brazen brings you the first two episodes of “Resistance: Stories from Ukraine,” a special series chronicling the harrowing experiences of everyday Ukrainians amid the Russian invasion of their country. Follow the podcast here [https://link.chtbl.com/ResistanceEp1]. As Ukraine’s military has mounted an impressive defense on
I, Roman
In recent weeks, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we’ve had a real-time lesson in the near impossibility of getting a solid handle on the net worth of the uber rich. It’s time, dear readers, to turn to Roman Abramovich for our Brazen Rich List.
Nazi Billionaires: Interview with David de Jong
This week, we have a new on-going feature at Whale Hunting: interviews with authors about their forthcoming books. There's no more perfect book for us to start with than the explosive, new work of Dutch journalist David de Jong. He spent four years digging into this book despite across-the-board reluctance
Crypto Savant Makes Rich List
For our Brazen Rich List this week, we’re delving back into crypto. If you’re looking to survey undercounted wealth, there really is no better place to search than this new and fast-growing industry. So far, Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, the founder of crypto-trading platform Binance, is top of
Whither the Yachts?
by Alex Finley Welcome to Vladivostok! On March 31, Nord, the 142-meter megayacht reportedly owned by Alexei Mordashov, a Russian steel and mining magnate, became the first of a fleet of Russian oligarch megayachts to reach the port of Vladivostok since the imposition of sanctions due to Russia’s invasion
The Mysterious Mercenaries Flooding into Ukraine
By Lucy Woods Operating largely in the shadows, the Wagner Group has been dubbed the "Kremlin’s private army." Now in Ukraine, they are emerging from the shadows. In late February, The Times reported that 400 mercenaries were sent to Kyiv by order of the Kremlin. They are said to
