Starting his career in penny stock trades, Bernie Madoff builds a lucrative side business as an adviser, attracting clients with impressive returns.

As word of Madoff's seemingly golden touch spreads from Wall Street to Palm Beach, his empire branches out into hedge funds — and draws scrutiny.

Competitors investigate Madoff's impossible numbers and alert the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the agency shrugs off multiple red flags.

Madoff’s scheme is exposed amid the 2008 financial market crisis. His victims' lives are upended as they face years of obstacles to recoup their losses.