Imagine building a sandcastle so grand, people mistake it for a palace. That’s Anthony Gignac’s life, a towering illusion built on desert air, not oil wealth. He wasn’t just playing dress-up; he was playing royalty, and millions bought the ticket to his mirage. Some might say he was a ‘prince’ of deception, a master of ‘royal’ fraud, or just a plain old con artist with delusions of grandeur. But ‘prince’ also suggests a leading figure, a pioneer in a dark art. Gignac certainly led a generation in audacious scams. He ‘ruled’ a kingdom of lies, where every handshake was a deal, every dinner a feast, and every word, a carefully spun thread of deceit. He was a ‘prince’ of his own making, until reality, like a desert storm, swept it all away. This is the story of how a man, with nothing but a dream and a talent for falsehood, convinced the world he was a royal, and how that dream turned into a prison cell.
TL;DR
- Don’t be fooled by appearances. Gignac’s success was built on creating an illusion of wealth and power.
- Be wary of unrealistic promises. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do your research. Don’t invest in anything without thoroughly investigating the opportunity and the people behind it.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Protect your personal information. Don’t share sensitive information with anyone you don’t know and trust.
A Life of Lies, Luxury, and Larceny
If there’s one thing history has taught us, it’s that people love a good scam—especially one that’s so ridiculous it’s almost impressive. Enter Anthony Enrique Gignac, a man who spent decades convincing the world that he was Saudi royalty, all while raking in millions of dollars. His story is one of deception, greed, and, ultimately, self-sabotage.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anthony Enrique Gignac (born José Moreno) |
| Born | 1970, Colombia |
| Nationality | Colombian-American |
| Known For | Fraud, impersonation of Saudi royalty |
| Alias | Prince Khalid bin Al Saud |
| Criminal Activity | Identity theft, financial fraud, investment scams |
| Notable Scam | Defrauded investors of $8.1 million by pretending to be a Saudi prince |
| Arrested | 2017 |
| Convicted | 2019 |
| Sentence | 18 years in prison |
The Making of a Con Artist
Anthony Gignac wasn’t born into wealth. In fact, he wasn’t even born into the Saudi royal family. Born in Colombia in 1970 as José Moreno, he was adopted by an American family and raised in the U.S. But from an early age, Anthony had a taste for the finer things—just not the means to acquire them legitimately.
By the late 1980s, as an 18-year-old, he had already begun testing the waters of fraud. His preferred method? Credit card theft. But swiping cards wasn’t enough—he wanted the prestige that came with power and wealth. So, he started telling people he was a Saudi prince. And the craziest part? They believed him.
From Michigan to California: The Prince’s First Acts of Deception
Anthony first started pulling his con in Michigan, where he racked up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges. His obsession with the high life had him renting limousines and rolling around town like an untouchable VIP. People saw a young man in expensive cars, throwing money around, and they assumed he had the pedigree to back it up.
When the heat got too much in Michigan, he packed up and took his act to California. But here’s the thing about fraud—it always catches up with you. It wasn’t long before authorities arrested him for credit card fraud, and he landed behind bars for the first time.
Miami: Bigger Lies, Bigger Risks
By the early 1990s, Anthony was back on the streets and living in Miami. With a fresh start, he doubled down on his deception. He stole someone’s identity and checked into a luxury hotel, claiming to be an important Saudi royal.
This time, he went all in—throwing extravagant parties and surrounding himself with people who wanted a piece of the action. But the illusion came crashing down one night when he was robbed by two of his so-called “friends.” Like any concerned citizen, he called the police. But even when speaking to law enforcement, he refused to drop the act. The officers, suspicious, contacted the Saudi Embassy, which quickly responded: Prince who? Never heard of him. And just like that, Anthony was arrested again.
The Audacity: $200 Million in Fake Credit
One might think repeated arrests would deter him, but not Anthony. After securing bail in 1994, he walked into an American Express office and told them he was a Saudi prince. His story? His credit card had been stolen, and—oh, by the way—it had a $200 million credit limit. To add insult to injury, he berated the staff until, shockingly, they issued him a new card.
This con, like the others, didn’t last long. Authorities soon caught up with him, and he found himself in and out of prison for the next decade and a half. But instead of changing his ways, he refined his craft.
The Ultimate Con: A Fake Prince’s Rise to “Royalty”
By 2015, Anthony decided it was time for a level-up. He met Carl, a British asset manager who believed in his ruse. Together, they concocted an even bigger scam: a fake investment firm allegedly backed by Saudi oil wealth.
This time, Anthony went all out to make his identity believable. He:
- Bought fake diplomatic license plates on eBay
- Hired personal security to follow him around
- Flooded social media with images of luxury, from yachts to diamond-studded dog harnesses
- Dressed the part, wearing traditional Middle Eastern attire
It worked. Investors lined up, and before long, they had swindled 26 people out of over $8 million. But the greed didn’t stop there. Anthony started selling fake shares in an actual Saudi royal oil company. It was a flawless scam—until he got too cocky.
The Billionaire Who Saw Through the Lies
In 2017, Anthony set his sights on an even bigger target: billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, owner of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. He convinced Soffer he was willing to invest $140 million in a deal, but then made an absurd demand: gifts. Lots of them.
Soffer, eager to keep the “prince” happy, bought him expensive jewelry, artwork, and even flew him on private jets. Everything was going according to plan until a simple dinner changed everything.
The Fatal Mistake: Pork on the Menu
During a luxury trip to Aspen, Soffer and his team took Anthony to dinner. That’s when the self-proclaimed Saudi prince made a critical error—he ordered pork. Now, for anyone unfamiliar, devout Muslims (especially those in the Saudi royal family) strictly avoid pork. Soffer immediately became suspicious.
The next morning, Soffer’s team started digging into Anthony’s background. A few phone calls later, the truth began unraveling. Anthony, sensing trouble, went into full meltdown mode, screaming accusations of disrespect and betrayal. But Soffer wasn’t buying it. Instead, he tipped off the FBI.
The End of the Road: Caught at Last
The FBI took one look at Anthony and knew something was off. A simple detail—his teeth—helped seal the deal. Saudi royals are known for pristine dental care, yet Anthony’s teeth were in poor shape.
In 2019, after decades of scamming, Anthony was sentenced to 18 years in prison—the longest sentence he had ever received. His long run of deception had finally caught up with him.
Lessons from a Master Manipulator
Anthony Gignac’s story is fascinating, not just because of the sheer audacity of his scams, but because it highlights how easily people can be deceived. His success was built on a few simple principles:
- People want to believe what they see—especially when luxury and wealth are involved.
- Confidence is everything. The more sure of yourself you are, the more others will follow.
- Social proof matters. If others believe a lie, it’s easier for new people to buy into it.
My Take: A Scammer Who Never Knew When to Quit
At some point, you have to wonder—did Anthony Gignac genuinely believe he was untouchable, or was he just addicted to the con? His story isn’t just about fraud; it’s about the illusion of power and the dangerous allure of wealth.
In the end, his undoing was his own arrogance. If he had stuck to smaller scams, he might have flown under the radar. But when you start demanding gifts from billionaires and eating pork while claiming to be a devout Muslim prince? Well, that’s how you get caught.
One thing is certain: the world of con artists lost one of its most entertaining figures. But with 18 years behind bars, Anthony Gignac won’t be scamming anyone anytime soon.
