Dennis Kozlowski
CEO: Tyco International Ltd.
Convicted: 06/17/2005 of misappropriation of corporate funds
In a 60 Minutes interview defending his innocence, former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski maintained that "nothing was hidden." That's for sure. Innocent or guilty, Kozlowski clearly wasn't modest, living a life of opulent luxury. The question of the case wasn't whether he took the money (he did), but rather whether he was authorized to do so — an issue he considered a jury unfit to rule on. "I was a guy sitting in a courtroom making $100 million a year and I think a juror sitting there just would have to say, 'All that money? He must have done something wrong.'"
There's no denying Kozlowski led a lavish lifestyle. His $30 million New York City apartment was allegedly paid for by the company. (The shower curtains alone, it was revealed in court, cost $6,000.) Tyco also footed half of the $2 million bill for an extravagant birthday party for Kozlowski's second wife in 2001. Disguised as a shareholder meeting, it took place on an Italian island and featured an ice sculpture of the Statue of David urinating Stolichnaya vodka. The bash—which became known as the Tyco Roman Orgy—probably didn't help his case. Kozlowski is currently serving up to 25 years in prison.