Hollywood Hustler: Glitz and Scam in the Film Industry

In 2021, American actor Zach Horwitz was arrested for allegedly orchestrating a $650 million Ponzi scheme, where he collected funds for fictional projects with HBO and Netflix. Instead of producing the projects, Horwitz used the money to finance a lavish lifestyle, complete with expensive trips to Las Vegas and a multi-million dollar mansion in Los Angeles. He was later convicted and received a 20-year prison sentence in 2022.

If you’re curious about this scandal, check out a three-part documentary directed by Rebecca Chaiklin, known for Tiger King. The film delves into the shocking Tinseltown scam, featuring insights from Horwitz’s friends who were roped into his schemes, as well as interviews with his long-time mistress and ex-wife, Mallory Hagedorn. Hagedorn, who married him as a teenager, filed for divorce shortly after his arrest. The couple shared two children.

Even after the documentary aired, over $200 million of the fraudulently obtained funds remain unaccounted for. If you’re interested in seeing Horwitz’s work as an actor under his screen name Zach Avery, you’ll find his most notable credit in the Brad Pitt film Fury, although it was an uncredited role. Despite his lack of on-screen success, Horwitz’s talent for deceiving others and upholding a facade of luxury is remarkable enough to be a film in itself. This riveting documentary spans three episodes and is definitely worth a watch.