Facing decades of deprivation, hopelessness, misery, and abject poverty, young Spindley Baker and Jamaima Winthrope make the decision to escape the squalid plight that has plagued their families and countless other generations of hill people. Yet, without the education or business skills required to succeed, they are left to devise their own unique resources. They quickly realize greed is a terrific motivator and, using their beguiling personalities, wit, charm, and humor, they gain the trust and win over thousands of skeptics convincing otherwise savvy people to invest in their schemes. Along the way the duet recruits two more rogues and the quartet travels the world, making and losing millions of dollars, while offering insightful looks at some of societyas most vaunted institutions. Creating the ultimate scam consumes over two years of careful planning and the result garners the group incredible wealth.