Meet Jay Gould, a notorious figure on Wall Street in the late 1800s known for his ruthless tactics in the railroad and telegraph industries. Gould and his partner James Fisk orchestrated a scheme in 1869 to corner the gold market, driving prices up drastically, which led to a spike in inflation and economic threats. Their actions culminated on Black Friday when the U.S. government intervened, causing the market to crash. While many investors faced financial ruin, Gould profited significantly, cementing his legacy as Wall Street's original villain and cautioning against unchecked market manipulation.
