Meet the late music manager Lou Pearlman, the mastermind behind some of the biggest boy bands of the '90s, as well as one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history.
Who was Lou Pearlman?
Lou Pearlman was the music mogul who discovered and managed iconic boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC in the 1990s. Despite his initial success, Pearlman's career took a dark turn when he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme, defrauding investors of over $1 billion. He passed away behind bars in 2016.
Which boy bands did Lou Pearlman create?
Pearlman kickstarted his career by forming the Backstreet Boys to rival the success of New Kids on the Block. He later discovered N'SYNC, O-Town, LFO, and Take 5, solidifying his reputation as a talent manager in the music industry.
What Ponzi scheme is Lou Pearlman accused of?
In 2006, investigations revealed that Lou Pearlman had scammed investors out of more than $1 billion through a Ponzi scheme. By fabricating insurance documents and financial statements, he lured people into investing in a non-existent company. After being caught, Pearlman fled the US but was eventually arrested in Indonesia and sentenced to 25 years in prison on various charges.
How to watch Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
"Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam" is a documentary available for streaming on Netflix starting from July 24, 2024. Viewers can choose from different Netflix packages, including ad-supported or ad-free options, to watch the documentary on their Smart TV, phone, or tablet.
