"Billions," which premiered on Showtime in 2016, stars Paul Giamatti as a high-profile U.S. attorney with an 81-consecutive conviction streak, while Damien Lewis plays Bobby “Axe” Axelrod, a revered hedge fund manager and sole survivor of his firm after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The show explores themes of wealth, ambition, loyalty, and betrayal, blending sharp dialogue with complex cha💮racter dynamics.

How the Show Got Made

"Billions" is a fictional jaunt into the dynamic world of hedge funds. It was created by financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin and the writers of "Rounders," Brian Koppelman and David Levien.

If the name Andrew Ross Sorkin sounds familiar, it’s because he is the author of "Too Big to Fail," the definitive tell-all book about the 2008 financial crisis. Koppelman and Levien wrote "Rounders," a novel about New York's underground high-stakes poker scene that was later made into a movie starring Matt Damon. Sorkin’s "Too Big to Fail" was adapted into a film of the same name that aired on HBO in 2011.

Billions Cast

Here's a quick rundown of the characters (along with the actor/actress who played each main part):

• Bobby "Axe" Axelrod (played by Damian Lewis): A billionaire hedge fund manager and co-founder of Axe Capital, known for his ruthless tactics, charm, and ambition.
• Chuck Rhoades (played by Paul Giamatti): A powerful U.S. Attorney with a deep commitment to justice, who becomes consumed by his personal vendetta against Bobby Axelrod.
• Wendy Rhoades (played by Maggie Siff): A brilliant performance coach and psychiatrist at Axe Capital, and Chuck’s wife, often caught between her professional and personal loyalties.
• Taylor Mason (played by Asia Kate Dillon): A highly intelligent, non-binary financial analyst who rises to prominence at Axe Capital and later establishes their firm.
• Mike Prince (played by Corey Stoll): A wealthy entrepreneur and hedge fund manager who becomes a rival to Axe, advocating for more ethical approaches to wealth and power.
• Lara Axelrod (played by Malin Åkerman): Bobby’s resourceful and strong-willed wife, who plays a key role in supporting his empire and protecting their family.
• Kate Sacker (played by Condola Rashad): An ambitious Assistant U.S. Attorney working closely with Chuck, navigating her career with sharp political instincts and determination.
• Bryan Connerty (played by Toby Leonard Moore): A principled yet conflicted prosecutor under Chuck, who struggles with loyalty and morality in high-stakes legal battles.
• Wags (Mike Wagner) (played by David Costabile): Bobby’s loyal and eccentric COO, known for his sharp wit, unapologetic lifestyle, and unwavering dedication to Axe Capital.

A Battle Between Power and Wealth

The show centers𝔍 on a power struggle between two sharply defined characters.

Giamatti’s character, Chuck Rhoad﷽es, is a conflicted, moral man. While he is in service to his wife’s dominatrix tendencies, he is also serving the public as a successful Wall Street sheriff. With 81 straight convictions under his belt, he picks his battles against financial titans carefully but offers no leniency, even to those he has known his entire life.

At one point, Rhoades is confronted by his father and asked to step in on behalf of a family friend who has been convicted of ins💜ider trading. The decision leads to fatal consequences for the convicted, as Rhoades must cꦺonfront the weight of his power on Wall Street.

Sorkin told "Modern Trader" that Chuck Rhoades is based on a number of attorneys that he witnessed over the years as a journalist covering white-collar crime.

Potential Inspirations

A viewer can see elements of former New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, who prosecuted many white-collar cases in the wake of the dot-com crash, and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, who on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:insider trading cases.

Hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod, though, is not based on any single Wall Street hedge fund manager.

Damien Lewis said that he read hedge fund manager David Einhorn’s book, "Fooling Some of the People All of the Time," to prepare for the role. And it is merely a coincidence that Bobby Axelrod shares the same initials as 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:activist investor aꦍnd Pershing Square Capital founder Bill Ackman.

“Bobby Axelrod is his own character,” Sorkin said in the same interview. “He isn’t based on any one individual, but he shares a lot of qualities of lots of people in the hedge fund world.”

Better Understanding Axelrod

Axelrod is also a complex character. Perhaps most striking about him is that despite all of his wealth, his marriage, and two sons, Axelrod seems alone. He's able to discuss his personal issues and motivations only with his company’s 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:trading psychologist, a woman who happens to be Chuck Rhoades’ wife.

He🌠 has always tried to be careful in his work and lif꧙e, but his decision to purchase a $63 million mansion marks a serious break from that cautious approach. When Rhoades advises him to not purchase the mansion, it simply makes Axelrod want it even more.

The final push comes when Axelrod sees his family pet whimpering on the ground after it has been neutered and forced to wear a protective cone. (There's a pretty obvious metaphor here.) He allows his ego to overtake him. But it soon appears that the decision to make such a high-profile purchase may set him up for failure later in the season.

That purchase is the launching point of an investigation of his firm⭕’s activities and the conclusion of the first episode.

Conclusion of Billions

As Billions builds toward its conclusion, the long-standing rivalry between Axelrod and Rhoades comes to a climactic head. With Bobby having retreated to Europe after his legal troubles and Mike Prince now in control of Axe Capital, the dynamics shift dramatically. The final season pivots from Axe's dominance to the power struggle between Chuck and Prince, with Bobby eventually re-emerging as a wildcard.

Mike Prince’s downfall is a significant focus in the closing episodes. While he initially presents himself as a reformer aiming to redefine capitalism, his methods and ego ultimately reveal him to be no better than his predecessors. His presidential ambitions become his Achilles' heel, as both Axe and Chuck exploit his weaknesses, unraveling his carefully curated public image.

The show also ties up key personal relationships, particularly those involving Wendy Rhoades. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to question her loyalties to both Chuck and Axe, eventually choosing her own path. Th🌺e relationship between Chuck and Wendy reaches a bittersweet resolution, with mutual respect but an acknowledgment that their marriage has irreparably changed.

In the end, Billions emphasizes the cyclical nature of p♑ower struggles in finance and law. While the players may change, the game remains the same, with new rivalries and alliances forming. However, the characters evolve, reflecting on the costs of their ambitions and the limits of their morality.

Similar Shows to Billions

If you just finished watching Billions, here arꦛe five other shows you might find interesting:

1. Succession is a drama about the power struggles within a wealthy and dysfunctional family running a global media empire, filled with sharp dialogue and cutthroat maneuvers.
2. House of Cards is a political thriller exploring the ruthless rise to power of Frank Underwood and his wife Claire, featuring intricate scheming and high-stakes drama.
3. Industry is a series following ambitious young graduates navigating the intense and competitive world of international banking and finance in London.
4. Mad Men is a critically acclaimed drama set in the 1960s advertising industry, delving into power dynamics, ambition, and personal struggles in a high-pressure corporate environment.
5. Suits is a legal drama revolving around a brilliant college dropout who becomes a lawyer at a top Manhattan firm, blending courtroom drama with office politics and personal rivalries.

The Bottom Line

Showtime’s "Billions" is a unique character study that pits political power against extreme wealth in the world of hedge fund finance and government oversight. The show ran from 2016 to 2023.