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How the Sackler Family Built and Lost a Pharma Fortune
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the rise and fall of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma. They trace how the family turned a small pharmacy into a powerhouse behind OxyContin, the opioid that triggered a national crisis. Lucas explains how the Sacklers used aggressive marketing to triple opioid sales, while the family trust structure shielded their wealth for decades. Luna notes that the Sacklers extracted $10 billion before the lawsuits hit. The hosts discuss the 2024 Supreme Court ruling that blocked a bankruptcy deal, leaving victims without closure. They explore how the family's reputation collapsed, with museum names removed and public trust shattered. The episode ends with a question about whether family-owned pharma companies can ever balance profit and public health. It's a sobering case study in how family governance can enable harm when accountability is missing.