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New book on Apollo has a cautionary note

Reported by Axios
Sep 14, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • William D. Cohan's "Money to Burn" presents a cautionary narrative on private capital growth, centered on Apollo Global Management's leadership and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal's intersection with high finance.
  • • Multiple books on Apollo history and space exploration offer varying perspectives on the space program era, with some sources recommending specific titles while flagging others as problematic interpretations.
  • • The cautionary framing suggests institutional investors should scrutinize the governance and ethical dimensions of alternative asset managers, particularly regarding founder-linked reputational risks.
Summary
A new book examining Apollo Global Management and the private capital industry offers a cautionary perspective for institutional investors evaluating alternative asset managers. According to available sources, William D. Cohan's "Money to Burn" traces the trajectory of private capital through the lens of Apollo's chief executive and founder, while simultaneously documenting the organization's involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein financial scandal—a significant governance and reputational event that carries implications for institutional due diligence.

The book's positioning as a cautionary tale underscores broader concerns within the alternative investment industry regarding founder accountability, regulatory oversight, and institutional governance. For hedge fund managers and family offices conducting counterparty risk assessments, this narrative highlights the potential for reputational contagion when alternative asset managers face scrutiny related to their principals' personal conduct or associations.

Additional Apollo-related literary treatments exist, including references to historical narratives on the space program era, though these operate in a distinct domain. The clustering of cautionary language across sources suggests institutional audiences should exercise heightened diligence regarding alternative managers with significant founder concentration and complex historical relationships with public figures or entities under regulatory examination.

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Sources

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AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

Axios New book on Apollo has a cautionary note