Home / Crime and Justice / Ruth Madoff: Loyalty, Loss, and a Quiet Life
Ruth Madoff: Loyalty, Loss, and a Quiet Life
12 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Ruth Madoff stood by Bernie despite his $65 billion Ponzi scheme.
- Her sons Mark and Andrew died by suicide and illness respectively.
- She now lives a quiet life away from public scrutiny.
Ruth Madoff's life was irrevocably altered by her husband Bernie's massive Ponzi scheme, a fraud estimated at $65 billion. Despite the widespread devastation, Ruth maintained her loyalty to Bernie, a man she had known since childhood. Their marriage endured decades, even as the scheme unraveled and led to Bernie's conviction and life sentence.
The aftermath of the scandal brought immense personal tragedy for Ruth. Her sons, Mark and Andrew, both died in the years following Bernie's arrest; Mark by suicide and Andrew from illness, which he attributed in part to the stress of his father's crimes. Ruth herself faced legal actions to recover assets for victims.
Following Bernie's death in prison in 2021, Ruth has largely withdrawn from public view. She has relocated several times, seeking a quieter existence away from the notoriety. Her life since the exposure of the scheme has been marked by profound loss and a persistent quietude.
