• The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times , Monday, December 22, 2008 11 AM

Bernard Madoff attained fame and fortune with his connections, ingenious marketing and a carefully cultivated image, report Robert Frank and Tom Lauricella, aided by five other contributors to a telling Journal profile based on interviews with dozens of friends, investors, and former colleagues.

Madoff's early competitive advantage was based on technology through which traders at other firms could electronically buy and sell at the best prices available on Nasdaq. As time went on, however, his allure seemed to be partly based on his exclusivity. (Although it was no doubt mostly based on his "remarkably consistent returns of 10% to 12%.")

Madoff had an unspoken rule that he wouldn't discuss money or investments in social settings, according to investors. And the Madoffs rarely appeared at major Palm Beach charity balls, the island's chief vehicle for social climbing. "You couldn't meet Madoff. He was like a pop star," says one banker.

Meanwhile, Madoff was a generous donor to mostly Democratic causes and maintained a steady lobbying presence through the government relations firm of Lent Scrivner & Roth, write Andrew Zajac and Janet Hook in the Los Angeles Times.

Most of the 13 members of Congress who received funds are New York-area lawmakers or members of committees overseeing financial services.

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