This book, written by Izvestia special correspondent Vladimir Perekrest, examines the story of the meteoric rise and crushing fall of one of the brightest and most powerful Russian oligarchs, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. How did such an influential, intelligent, charming and rich man end up in the dock? Based on documentary materials and information from the highest spheres of the political and business establishment, the author answers the question about the true reasons for his arrest and severe punishment. The book, as often happens, began with a newspaper publication. A series of five materials, united by the same name as the book you are holding in your hands, broke all traffic records on the Izvestia website and attracted the largest number of reader responses. They have not stopped to this day - that is why the author returns to this topic. But already in book format - significantly expanded and supplemented.