John Paulson made his fortune by taking a massive short position against the US housing bubble. Today the hedge fund billionaire is betting that the US political system will fail. This time he has company. Other billionaires have launched a lawsuit to force the US Treasury to pay shareholders vast sums from the government-sponsored housing enterprises that it bailed out in 2008. Betting on Washington’s largesse has become a routine investment strategy. Whether this one works, aspiring billionaires should take note: if you want to strike it lucky, try shorting American democracy. The risk is small and the rewards are spectacular.
約翰?保爾森(John Paulson)憑借著針對美國房地產泡沫的巨額空頭頭寸發了財。如今，這位對沖基金界的億萬富翁正在押注美國政治體系失靈。這回，他不是孤軍奮戰。其他億萬富翁已發起訴訟，試圖迫使美國財政部(US Treasury)為其在2008年紓困的政府支持的房貸機構向股東支付大筆款項。押注政府的慷慨已成為常見的投資策略。無論此舉能否奏效，那些雄心勃勃的億萬富翁都應當留意：要想一下子走運，不妨做空美國民主制度。風險低，回報豐厚。