Synopses & Reviews
When globalization pioneer and reclusive billionaire Larry Hillblom disappeared in 1995, he left behind an international fiasco that is still unraveling today.
King Larry is a three-part journey, beginning with the early years of a mercurial young man who grew up fatherless on a peach farm outside of Fresno, California. Months after graduating from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1969, Hillblom cofounded DHL—three years before FedEx was formed—and it quickly became the fastest-growing corporation in history.
Hillbloms expatriate life began twelve years later, when he retreated to a small tax haven in the Western Pacific. There, James Scurlock reveals, Hillblom led the resistance to American meddling in the Mariana Islands, rewrote the tax code and real-estate laws, and became a Supreme Court justice—among other unlikely exploits.
Hillbloms voracious appetite for underage prostitutes is another facet of his convoluted story, illuminating the realities of the sex and human-trafficking industries in Southeast Asia. But Hillbloms amoral, thrill-seeking nature finally caught up with him when his vintage seaplane disappeared off the coast of Anatahan in May 1995, and he left behind an estate worth close to a billion dollars. Weeks later, five impoverished women and their attorneys came forward to challenge Hillbloms will, his former business partners, and his alma mater, provoking a legal battle that has raged for over fifteen years.
From Howard Hughes to Mark Zuckerberg, the public has always been fascinated by larger-than-life entrepreneurs and their eccentricities. Now, James Scurlock engages us with the riveting story of one such man, who dressed in rags and lived in relative obscurity, but who has had a profound and lasting influence—a pioneer who shrank the globe, toppled the postal monopoly, anticipated electronic mail, and, most important, envisioned a world driven by economics rather than by laws.
Synopsis
The story of DHL co-founder and billionaire Larry Hillblom, who disappeared, leaving behind an international fiasco that’s still unraveling today.
Synopsis
From Howard Hughes to Mark Zuckerberg, the public has always been fascinated by genius entrepreneurs who succumb to their eccentricities. Now, James Scurlock engages, educates, and entertains readers with the captivating story of DHL co-founder and billionaire Larry Hillblom.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;King Larryandlt;/Iandgt; begins with an early biography of Larry Lee Hillblom, a mercurial young man who grew up on a peach farm outside of Fresno, California. Hillblom co-founded DHL in 1969 (three years before FedEx), and it became the fastest-growing corporation in history. Hillblomand#8217;s expatriate life began in 1981, when he retreated to a small tax haven in the Western Pacific. There he led the resistance to American meddling in the Marianas Islands. Hillblomand#8217;s voracious appetite for underage prostitutes is another facet of his unusual story. In 1995, Hillblomand#8217;s amoral, thrill-seeking nature caught up to him when his seaplane disappeared off the coast of Anatahan, leaving behind an estate worth billions. Weeks later, five impoverished women and their attorneys came forward to challenge Hillblomand#8217;s will in a legal battle for his fortunes that continues to this day.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Meticulously researched and thoroughly engaging, andlt;Iandgt;King Larryandlt;/Iandgt; will satisfy fans of such bestsellers as andlt;Iandgt;Confessions of an Economic Hit Manandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;The Accidental Billionairesandlt;/Iandgt; .
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;James D. Scurlockandlt;/Bandgt; studied at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania before dropping out to pursue an entrepreneurial venture and later a documentary film career. His first film, andlt;iandgt;Parents of the Yearandlt;/iandgt;, won numerous awards and was an official selection of more than twenty-five film festivals. His first feature-length documentary, andlt;iandgt;Maxed Outandlt;/iandgt;, exploredandnbsp;our cultureandnbsp;of debt and won the Special Jury Prize at South by Southwest. His first book, a companion to the award-winning documentary, was nominated for the National MS Society's "Books for a Better Life" Award. He has written, primarily about the impending (and now realized) financial crisis, for andlt;iandgt;Slate, Newsweek, The Huffington Postandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;AARP Magazineandlt;/iandgt;, among others. He has also appeared on numerous programs, including andlt;iandgt;Nightline, The Today Showandlt;/iandgt;, and CNBCand#8217;s andlt;iandgt;Power Lunchandlt;/iandgt;. Scurlock lives in Santa Monica, California.