The Pirate of Prague

The eight-part series is hosted by journalist Joe Nocera with the help of investigative journalist Peter Elkind and tells the story of the charming young Czech, Viktor Kožený.

Kožený smooth-talked his super-wealthy Aspen neighbors and a Wall Street titan into investing huge sums of cash to snap up Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company, promising staggering returns. Sounds too good to be true, right?

It is the story of private jets, $20,000 dinners, and suitcases stuffed with cash. It’s also a tale about the collapse of communism, the free-for-all that followed, and the rise of the oligarchs. And it’s a story of plain-old human greed…of just how far the rich may go to get even richer.

Nocera and Elkind follow the trail, beginning in the Bahamas, where the charismatic financial genius has been lying low.

The Pirate of Prague won Silver for Best Documentary and Best Original Score at the Signal Awards 2024. It also won Gold Listeners’ Choice in both categories.

Credits

Co-Writer, Host: Joe Nocera

Co-Writer, Producer: Ben Crighton

Original Music: Daniel Lloyd-Evans, Louis Nanke-Mannell, Toby Matimong

Sound Designer and Recordist: Volkan Kiziltug

Managing Producer: Amica Sciortino Nowlan

Creative Director: Rosie Pye

Executive Producer: Laurence Grissell