The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.

• SOURCES:

• Javier Blas (bloomberg.com/authors/ASIsQsgx0V8/javier-blas?…), opinion columnist at Bloomberg News.

• Jack Farchy (linkedin.com/in/jack-farchy-5a3a6723/?original…), energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News.

• RESOURCES:

• The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources (amzn.to/438t0fN), by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021)

• The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich (amzn.to/3Fjj7To), by Daniel Ammann (2010).

• EXTRAS:

• "How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update) (freakonomics.com/podcast/how-the-supermarket-h…)" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).

• "The First Great American Industry (freakonomics.com/podcast/the-first-great-ameri…)," by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

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