Once dubbed "the greatest trader you've never heard of", Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang amassed a $20 billion (£16bn) net worth – only to see it wiped out in the blink of an eye.

His fortune was obliterated back in March 2021 following the spectacular collapse of Archegos Capital Management, his New York-based private investment firm. Hwang has since been found guilty on several charges for his role in the fund's catastrophic implosion, which had far-reaching consequences across the financial world. 

The rags-to-riches Hwang, who started out making burgers in McDonald's, has just been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Read on to discover how he managed to accumulate so much wealth and lose it so dramatically. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars.