Member-only story

Genius Con Man: The Secret History of the Internet Rise

Charles Dickens

·18.8k Followers· Follow

Published in The Players Ball: A Genius A Con Man And The Secret History Of The Internet S Rise

5 min read · 1 month before

1.2k View Claps

95 Respond

Save

Listen

In the early 1990s, the internet was just a glimmer in the eye of a few visionary nerds. But one man, a self-proclaimed genius named John Draper, was determined to make it a reality.

Draper was a brilliant hacker who had already made a name for himself by breaking into AT&T's phone system and creating a device that allowed people to make free long-distance calls. He was also a master of social engineering, and he used his skills to charm investors and politicians into believing in his vision of a global network.

The Players Ball: A Genius, a Con Man, and the Secret History of the Internet's Rise

by David Kushner

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1303 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	273 pages

In 1990, Draper founded a company called Netcom, which quickly became one of the largest internet service providers in the world. But Draper's success was built on a foundation of lies and exaggerations. He claimed to have invented the internet, and he promised investors that Netcom would soon be worth billions of dollars.

In reality, Draper had played a relatively minor role in the development of the internet. And Netcom was not nearly as profitable as he claimed. When investors finally realized the truth, they pulled their money out of the company, and Netcom collapsed.

Draper was arrested and charged with fraud. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. But even behind bars, he continued to work on his dream of a global network. He wrote a book about his experiences, and he helped to develop new technologies that would make the internet more accessible and affordable.

Today, John Draper is a free man. He is still considered a visionary, but he is also remembered as a con man. His story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the power of deception.

The Man Who Almost Single-Handedly Brought the Internet to the World

John Draper was born in 1944 in New Jersey. He was a bright child, but he was also a rebel. He dropped out of high school and ran away from home at the age of 16. He spent the next few years traveling around the country, working odd jobs and learning about electronics.

In the early 1970s, Draper became interested in hacking. He taught himself how to break into phone systems and create devices that allowed people to make free long-distance calls. He also started to experiment with the early internet, and he quickly realized its potential.

In 1990, Draper founded Netcom, which quickly became one of the largest internet service providers in the world. Draper's vision was to make the internet accessible to everyone, and he worked tirelessly to promote its growth.

But Draper's success was built on a foundation of lies and exaggerations. He claimed to have invented the internet, and he promised investors that Netcom would soon be worth billions of dollars.

The Fall of Netcom

In 1995, investors began to question Draper's claims. They realized that Netcom was not nearly as profitable as he had claimed, and they started to pull their money out of the company.

In 1996, Netcom filed for bankruptcy. Draper was arrested and charged with fraud. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

The Legacy of John Draper

John Draper is a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant hacker and visionary, but he was also a con man. His story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the power of deception.

But Draper also played a significant role in the development of the internet. He was one of the first people to recognize its potential, and he worked tirelessly to promote its growth. Without Draper, the internet might not be as widespread as it is today.

John Draper is a reminder that even the most brilliant minds can be corrupted by greed and ambition. But he is also a reminder that even the biggest failures can leave a lasting legacy.

The Players Ball: A Genius, a Con Man, and the Secret History of the Internet's Rise

by David Kushner

4.2 out of 5