During sentencing at his $65Bn fraud trial, Mr Madoff denied that he had led a life of greed, self-indulgence and arrogance. "There are some who have said I lived like a Pharoah."

"One thing is clear: After their departure the Pharoahs left pyramids as eternal monuments to their wealth and power. But in my case people will have a tough old time finding my 'pyramid' let alone making any sense of it."