The former CEO of FTX received an unexpected invitation from Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue, to attend the prestigious Met Gala. However, at the eleventh hour, he regrettably canceled his appearance.

In an upcoming book penned by Michael Lewis, renowned for “The Big Short,” a captivating portrayal of Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried emerges. The book, titled “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon,” offers readers a glimpse into Bankman-Fried’s interactions with the media and prominent figures before FTX’s dramatic decline and his subsequent legal troubles in the United States. Lewis narrates that during online interviews, Bankman-Fried often indulged in video games, particularly his well-documented League of Legends exploits, occasionally diverting his attention from his interviewees, including Anna Wintour.

“Sam’s intentions were never to appear discourteous,” Lewis notes regarding SBF’s conversation with Wintour. “It was simply a result of his need to juggle multiple games simultaneously, both in the virtual realm and real life. His newfound role as the world’s most captivating young billionaire compelled him to engage in unconventional activities. He craved distractions beyond the realm of expectations.”

Lewis goes on to quote Natalie Tien, who assumed the roles of FTX’s head of public relations and SBF’s personal scheduler. According to the book, the former CEO frequently canceled high-profile commitments, often with little explanation. The interview with Wintour, in particular, led to FTX’s sponsorship and Bankman-Fried’s invitation as a special guest at the Met Gala, an invitation he ultimately declined.

“Sam perceived his schedule as more of an abstract concept than a concrete plan,” the book explains. “When people sought his time, they unknowingly posed a question with variable answers. Sam’s decision to say ‘yes’ merely reflected his assessment of the probability of investing his time in the proposed activity. The dial swung unpredictably as he constantly recalculated the value of each commitment, right up until the moment he either honored or disregarded it.”

Bankman-Fried’s rare in-person appearances included testifying before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee in December 2021 and meeting with Senator Mitch McConnell. These occasions marked a departure from his usual attire of T-shirts and shorts, with social media users even highlighting footage of him wearing untied shoes during the hearing.

The release of the book on October 3 coincides with the commencement of jury selection for SBF’s criminal trial in New York. Amidst the impending legal proceedings, a flurry of podcasts, news features, books, and other media have emerged, shedding light on Bankman-Fried’s life both before and after FTX’s downfall. A 60 Minutes interview with Michael Lewis revealed SBF’s intentions to dissuade former U.S. President Donald Trump from pursuing political office again, citing concerns about his perceived threat to elections and democracy as a whole.

On October 4, Bankman-Fried is set to appear in a New York courtroom for the inaugural day of his trial, slated to continue through November. He faces seven charges related to fraud at FTX and Alameda Research, maintaining his plea of not guilty.