Date of Birth: August 27, 1941
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: February 2, 2020
Biography
Bernard John Ebbers was a Canadian-born businessman who gained prominence as the CEO of WorldCom, a telecommunications company. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Ebbers began his career in business after moving to the United States. He initially invested in a chain of motels before transitioning into telecommunications, founding Long Distance Discount Services, Inc. (LDDS) in 1983, which eventually became WorldCom. Under his leadership, WorldCom expanded rapidly through a series of acquisitions and mergers, making it one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. However, his career took a dramatic turn when WorldCom became embroiled in one of the largest accounting scandals in U.S. history, leading to its bankruptcy in 2002. Ebbers was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 2005 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was released in December 2019 due to health concerns and passed away shortly thereafter.
5 Interesting Facts about Bernard Ebbers
1. Bernard Ebbers was known for his frugal lifestyle despite being a multi-millionaire, often driving an old pickup truck.
2. He started his career as a basketball coach before moving into business.
3. Ebbers was a key figure in the telecommunications boom of the 1990s.
4. He was known for his aggressive acquisition strategy, which was instrumental in WorldCom’s rapid growth.
5. The WorldCom scandal led to heightened scrutiny and reforms in corporate governance and financial reporting.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bernard Ebbers
1. “You can’t stop trusting people in business. That would be like going to war and being afraid to use your sword.”
2. “I guess the definition of a lunatic is a man surrounded by them.”
3. “I’m not an engineer. I did not design the company’s systems or software. I didn’t do that.”
4. “We do not have a liquidity problem.”
5. “We are a results-driven company.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At his peak, Bernard Ebbers’ net worth was estimated to be around $1.4 billion.
Children
Bernard Ebbers had three daughters: Joy Ebbers, Ave Ebbers, and Treasure Ebbers.
Relevant Links
1. [Bernard Ebbers on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Ebbers
2. [WorldCom Scandal Overview](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/worldcom-scandal.asp
4. [BBC News on WorldCom](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2093880.stm
5. [Forbes article on WorldCom](https://www.forbes.com/2002/07/01/accountingtracker.html