Raj Rajaratnam had a ready response for those inquiring about the success of his hedge fund, the Galleon Group, that of a strong desire for winning.

"It is pride, I want to win," Rajaratnam said in "The New Superstars," a book by Lois Peltz published in 2001.  "After awhile, money is not the motivation.  I want to win every time.  Taking calculated risks gets my adrenaline pumping."

Prosecutors claim that this zeal for winning crossed the line into criminal activity according to a report by Michael J. de la Merced and Zachery Kouwe of the New York Times.  

At dawn on Friday, November 16, Rajaratnam was arrested at his expensive Manhattan home.  He was charged with running the biggest insider trading scheme involving a hedge fund.  

The New York Times on October 23 ran a revealing article concerning the U.S. economy by Louise Story headlined: HEDGE FUNDS' STEEP FALL SENDS INVESTORS FLEEING.  

Louise Story writes about the toppling of the new Gilded Age of American economics:

"The Gilded Age of hedge funds is losing its luster.  The funds, pools of fast money that defined the era of Wall Street hyper wealthy are in the throes of an unprecedented shakeout.  Even some industry stars are falling back to earth.

"This unregulated, at times volatile corner of finance -- which is supposed to make money in bull and bear markets -- lost $180 billion during the last three months.  Investors, particularly wealthy individuals, are heading for the exits.