Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Passage Pictures Plots Biopic on Swedish Match King Ivar Kreuger
Imagine a man who became super rich by selling matches all over the world.
He was like a king of matches!
He also lent a lot of money to people and even big governments.
He knew famous movie stars and important politicians, so he seemed very powerful.
But, he was hiding a big secret: he wasn't as rich as he seemed.
When the stock market crashed, his secrets came out.
It turned out he had been tricking everyone!
He lost everything and sadly, he died, and it was ruled a suicide.
His story is so dramatic that filmmakers want to make a movie about his amazing rise and shocking fall, which reminds people of other big financial cheats.
Producer Uri Singer and Orlando John have acquired rights to adapt Frank Partnoy's book 'The Match King' about Ivar Kreuger.
Ivar Kreuger, a Swedish financier, built a global empire through match monopolies and loans, cultivating relationships with celebrities and politicians.
Kreuger's empire collapsed after the 1929 Wall Street crash and the Great Depression.
His downfall in 1932 revealed widespread deception, and he was found dead in a suspected suicide.
The story, described as 'The Great Gatsby meets Wolf of Wall Street', is seen as a precursor to later financial scandals like Enron and Madoff.
- Who
- Producer Uri Singer and talent manager/producer Orlando John are developing a biopic.
- What
- Adaptation rights have been secured for a book about Swedish financier Ivar Kreuger, known as 'The Match King'.
- When
- The story spans from Kreuger's rise to his downfall in 1932, with the adaptation rights secured recently.
- Where
- Sweden (Kreuger's origin), Wall Street, and global financial/political circles.
- Why
- To tell the story of Ivar Kreuger's rise and fall, his financial genius, and the scandals he was involved in, which influenced later financial crises.
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Genius and Influence
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Deception and Downfall
Public Perception and Legacy
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Genius and Influence
Ivar Kreuger was a visionary financial genius who built a global empire and wielded significant influence, captivating celebrities and politicians alike.
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Deception and Downfall
Ivar Kreuger was a master swindler whose 'genius' was built on a foundation of lies and deception, ultimately leading to widespread financial ruin.
Impact of Downfall
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Genius and Influence
Kreuger's spectacular downfall, while significant, was a consequence of broader economic forces like the Great Depression.
Focus on Ivar Kreuger's Deception and Downfall
Kreuger's downfall exposed a deep web of deception and laid the groundwork for understanding future financial scandals, highlighting his role in systemic corruption.
- Producer
- Uri Singer (Passage Pictures)
- Partner
- Orlando John
- Source Material
- The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals by Frank Partnoy
- Inspiration
- The Great Gatsby meets Wolf of Wall Street
- Kreuger's Business
- Match monopolies and high-stakes loans
- Downfall Trigger
- The Wall Street crash of 1929 and the Great Depression