8. WorldCom (2002)
WorldCom was the United States’ second largest telecommunications companies, founded in 1983. In 2002, the company inflated its assets as much as $11 billion, leading to 30,000 people losing their jobs, and the $180 billion in cost to investors. The former CEO, Bernie Ebbers was the mastermind behind the scheme, which was accomplished by under-reporting line costs, and inflating revenues with fake accounting entries. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
