Planet Money

And how can we meet our fake shareholder and fake director?

There are people with Birkin bags, and there are the rest of us. Today on the show: the elaborate, upside-down strategy that has kept a $60,000 purse the “it” bag for 30 years.

There are people with Birkin bags, and there are the rest of us. Today on the show: the elaborate, upside-down strategy that has kept a $60,000 purse the “it” bag for 30 years.

The story of a scheme to corner the market that got so out of hand that it eventually caused the Chicago River to flow not just with water but with America’s onions. Onion farming hasn’t been the same since.

Vince Kosuga farmed onions. Then he tried trading them on the market, too. He made millions. Today on the show: How trading got so out of hand that the Chicago River flowed with America’s onions.