Midas Men (Hardback)

The Savage History of a Modern Gold Empire

Richard Poplak

For readers of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough: an explosive investigation into the web of corruption behind the world's most powerful gold-mining company

For fans of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough - a gripping story of multinational power, human greed, violence and gold

Gold runs the world. Even now, in the age of Bitcoin and A.I., behind the scenes true wealth is staked on a mineral whose value has exploded over 900% in thirty years. Behind that precipitous rise: a web of mines and shell companies, a trail of environmental destruction and criminal collusion, and one corporation with the key to it all.

In this compulsive and sweeping corporate thriller, investigative journalist Richard Poplak follows Barrick Gold Corporation's shocking ascent to become the world's most powerful gold-mining company. From the Holocaust survivor and Saudi-Arabian arms dealer who founded it, to the politicians and mercenaries who enabled its growth - and the activists who risked everything to fight back - this is the Shakespearian tale of the people, power, money and violence that built an empire and changed the world.

Publication date: March 4, 2027

£25.00

ISBN: 9781806493357

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Climate & the Environment, Current Affairs, Politics & Economics

Midas Men (Ebook)

The Savage History of a Modern Gold Empire

Richard Poplak

For readers of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough: an explosive investigation into the web of corruption behind the world's most powerful gold-mining company

For fans of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough - a gripping story of multinational power, human greed, violence and gold

Gold runs the world. Even now, in the age of Bitcoin and A.I., behind the scenes true wealth is staked on a mineral whose value has exploded over 900% in thirty years. Behind that precipitous rise: a web of mines and shell companies, a trail of environmental destruction and criminal collusion, and one corporation with the key to it all.

In this compulsive and sweeping corporate thriller, investigative journalist Richard Poplak follows Barrick Gold Corporation's shocking ascent to become the world's most powerful gold-mining company. From the Holocaust survivor and Saudi-Arabian arms dealer who founded it, to the politicians and mercenaries who enabled its growth - and the activists who risked everything to fight back - this is the Shakespearian tale of the people, power, money and violence that built an empire and changed the world.

Publication date: March 4, 2027

£20.00

ISBN: 9781806493371

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B0HBZG2VR8

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Climate & the Environment, Current Affairs, Politics & Economics

Midas Men (Audiobook)

The Savage History of a Modern Gold Empire

Richard Poplak

Preorder from

For readers of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough: an explosive investigation into the web of corruption behind the world's most powerful gold-mining company

For fans of Patrick Radden Keefe and Oliver Bullough - a gripping story of multinational power, human greed, violence and gold

Gold runs the world. Even now, in the age of Bitcoin and A.I., behind the scenes true wealth is staked on a mineral whose value has exploded over 900% in thirty years. Behind that precipitous rise: a web of mines and shell companies, a trail of environmental destruction and criminal collusion, and one corporation with the key to it all.

In this compulsive and sweeping corporate thriller, investigative journalist Richard Poplak follows Barrick Gold Corporation's shocking ascent to become the world's most powerful gold-mining company. From the Holocaust survivor and Saudi-Arabian arms dealer who founded it, to the politicians and mercenaries who enabled its growth - and the activists who risked everything to fight back - this is the Shakespearian tale of the people, power, money and violence that built an empire and changed the world.

Publication date: March 4, 2027

£24.99

ISBN: 9781806493388

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Climate & the Environment, Current Affairs, Politics & Economics

Reviews for Midas Men

'Midas Men is a meticulous account of Canadian complicity in rampant political corruption and environmental devastation in vulnerable places-a forensic examination of how Canada provides a flag of convenience for men with outsized egos, colossal vanity and a primeval need to dominate each other'

Linden MacIntyre, author of THE BISHOP'S MAN 

Richard Poplak

Richard Poplak

Richard Poplak is a Johannesburg-based South African author, journalist and filmmaker who focuses on corporate criminality, race and equity issues. A Senior Contributor to the Daily Maverick, he is the author of the graphic novel Kenk, and co-director of the film, Influence.