Investopedia

Gordon Gekko

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Gordon Gekko'

A fictional character who played the villain in the popular 1980s Oliver Stone movie Wall Street. Gekko's character, a ruthless and wildly wealthy investor and corporate raider, has become a cultural symbol for greed, as epitomized by the famous Wall Street quote, "Greed . . . is good." For his portrayal of Gekko's character, Michael Douglas won an Oscar.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Gordon Gekko'

Gekko's character was not specifically based on any real-life person, but is said to have been loosely modeled on junk-bond king Michael Milken, who went to prison on racketeering and fraud charges. Gekko's greed monologue is said to be based on a real-life commencement speech Ivan Boesky gave at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1986.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Quants: The Rocket Scientists Of Wall Street

    Blend math, finance and computer skills to command a high - and well deserved - salary.
  2. Are High-Yield Bonds Too Risky?

    Despite their reputation, the debt securities known as "junk bonds" may actually reduce risk in your portfolio.
  3. Activist Investors: A Good Or Bad Thing?

    When a large stakeholder is dissatisfied with a company's management, it may take matters into its own hands.
  4. War's Influence On Wall Street

    Blitzkrieg? Dawn raids? Sounds like the markets and the battlefield have a few things in common!
  5. Handcuffs And Smoking Guns: The Criminal Elements Of Wall Street

    From godfathers to perps, familiarize yourself with the "criminal elements" creeping around Wall Street.
  6. Corporate Takeover Defense: A Shareholder's Perspective

    Find out the strategies corporations use to protect themselves from unwanted acquisitions.
  7. How To Safeguard Your Tax Returns From Identity Theft

    Identity thieves love tax season. In 2012, there were 13 million victims of identity theft. As easy as it is for thieves to steal your information, there are also simple measures you can take ...
  8. How To Report A Tax Cheat

    If you report a tax evader to the IRS, you could be eligible for a reward.
  9. How To Identify A Micro-Cap Scam

    Discover how to distinguish a real investment opportunity from a fraudulent one.
  10. The Underground Internet Economy Of Cybercrime

    Cybercrime represents an underground economy worth $114 billion. Let's take a look at how this economy operates.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  2. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  3. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
  4. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.
  5. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.
  6. Icarus Factor

    The term Icarus factor describes a situation where managers or executives initiate an overly ambitious project which then fails. Fueled by excitement for the project, the executives are unable to reign in their misguided enthusiasm before it is too late to avoid the failure.
Trading Center