In the late 1980s, he founded McAfee Associates, the antivirus software company. The company went public in 1992, and two years later, he sold his remaining stake, bringing his gains to about $100 million.

[He was living a great life.] But then things began to change. In 2007, Mr. McAfee sold a 10,000-square-foot home in Colorado with a view of Pike’s Peak. He had spent $25 million to buy the property and build the house. He received $5.7 million for it. When Lehman collapsed last fall, its bonds became virtually worthless. Mr. McAfee’s stock investments cost him millions more.

His remaining net worth of about $4 million makes him vastly wealthier than most Americans, of course. But he has nonetheless found himself needing cash and desperately trying to reduce his monthly expenses.

Isn’t it strange the New York Times makes it sound like he’s so good and the “system” hurt him? He had a great company, got really rich, then made bad investments, got less rich. Simple.