He squandered millions on a dreadful car film and contributed to the collapse of the global economy.

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      Do you recall the 2000s, when underground car culture experienced a surge in popularity? It was the era of The Fast and the Furious, Torque, and Driven… Ah, Driven. I really wish I could forget it. That manhole cover flying through the air still haunts my dreams at night.

      However, if Driven was disappointing, Redline was even worse. Not only was it an exceptionally dreadful movie, but it was also funded by one of the key figures behind the 2008 financial crisis: Daniel Sadek, the owner of Quick Loan Funding.

      Sadek may not be the only ambitious filmmaker to lose $18 million on a $26 million film, but he is unique in having destroyed both a Porsche Carrera GT and a Ferrari Enzo along the way. Technically, it was Eddie Griffin who crashed the Enzo, but really, who’s keeping track? Certainly not anyone involved with NINJA loans before the Great Recession.

      Redline’s cast of lesser-known actors might have contributed to a fun racing adventure if someone competent had been in charge, but that clearly was not the situation. From the complicated storyline to the lead role tailored for Sadek’s girlfriend, there should have been enough warning signs for the production team to run the other way. But initially, Sadek’s financial backing was appealing—at least until it wasn't—and his lending enterprise was thriving.

      What could possibly go wrong? It turns out, the answer is “almost everything.”

      It wasn’t merely the two ruined supercars that caused issues (the Carrera GT was crashed during filming, while Eddie wrecked the Enzo at a promotional event), but they certainly did not help the already over-budget venture.

      And to clarify, we’re not exaggerating about the financial crisis; Sadek’s company held nearly $4 billion in subprime loans when the bubble burst. He even made Vanity Fair’s list of the 100 People to Blame for the 2008 Crisis. He ranked #86, but his aggressive targeting of unqualified borrowers earned him the nickname “Predator Zero.”

      He was so financially stretched from funding the film that he could not handle the surge of defaults, which ultimately led to the downfall of his business.

      For the complete story, check out our video linked at the top. It’s quite a journey.

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