BANKRUPT BILLIONAIRE is the story of Sean Quinn, the man who personified Ireland’s boom and subsequently, its bust.
With unprecedented access to Quinn himself, filmed over a four-year period, telling one of the most extraordinary stories of our time; a reversal of fortunes more far-fetched than fiction. It is the story of how a farmer’s son from Derrylin went from being a school dropout to one of the richest men in the world – literally building an empire from the limestone and shale-filled ground he grew up on. Charting the dramatic expansion of the Quinn empire, from manufacturing to hospitality, property and insurance, we detail how Sean Quinn became a ‘chieftain’ to his native region on the Fermanagh / Cavan border; injecting wealth and hope into a community which remains fiercely loyal to him today.
Detailing the awe-inspiring rags to riches story of Sean Quinn’s success, the film builds to the dramatic tipping point – the bursting of his billionaire bubble and spectacular downfall. Forensically unpicking the boom to bust years; it charts the story of how a billionaire became a bankrupt prisoner, brought down by the collapse of his insurance business and a multi-billion-euro gamble on shares in the Anglo Irish Bank. Punctuated by dark moments of introspection from Quinn himself, on the last ten years of his life.
Featuring candid testimony from Sean Quinn, building a picture of an enigmatic, fascinating and divisive character; someone who amassed an unimaginable fortune and all the trimmings but remained firmly rooted; his desire for wealth matched by his desire for the simple things in life. It was this deep-seated attachment to home which arguably led to his downfall – choosing to invest in a local bank, which happened to be the most toxic in the world.
Charting a 40-year career of staggering highs and lows, the documentary brings Sean Quinn’s story up to date, detailing the latest dramas in a gripping saga; the ongoing legal battles between the Quinn family and the former Anglo Irish Bank, the toxic relationship between Quinn and his former business associates and the current campaign of intimidation against managers running companies formerly owned by Quinn, culminating in the horrific attack in 2019 on former right-hand man, Kevin Lunney.
Reflecting on his remarkable rise and fall, the words of Ireland’s former richest man – once worth $6 billion – reverberate around the house, “I made mistakes. The biggest was to invest in a bank”.
“Has the epic sprawl of a Hollywood tragedy.”THE IRISH TIMES
“Pick of the day.”RTE
“It’s like Shakespeare meets Father Ted meets The Big Short.”THE IRISH TIMES
“The intensity of the first-person contributions from the man himself delivered compelling moments.”THE TIMES
“Rich in detail.”THE IMPARTIAL REPORTER
“Gripping… an impressive piece of work.”THE TIMES
“Written and directed with considerable agility by Trevor Birney… context and commentary were supplied by an eclectic gallery of eloquent voices from journalism, politics and business.”THE TIMES
