PATRICK BYRENS WILD RIDE

1976: Byrne’s father, Jack, goes to work at troubled Geico and turns it around, attracting an

investment from Warren Buffett, who will later call him the “Babe Ruth of

insurance.”

1976: As a teenager, Byrne starts spending time with family friend Warren Buffett (below).

1985: Diagnosed with testicular cancer after graduating from

Dartmouth.

1986: Embarks on cross-country bicycle ride; a few years later he beats cancer for

the third time.

1989: Finishes stint at Cambridge University as a Marshall Scholar. 1994: Receives Ph.D. in philosophy from

Stanford.

1997: Accepts job offer from Buffett to run Berkshire Hathaway-owned uniform manufacturer Fechheimer Brothers.

1999: Acquires a majority stake in D2Discounts Direct for $7 million; later renames

it Overstock.

2002: Takes Overstock public in a Dutch auction; stock begins trading on Nasdaq.

2005: Becomes obsessed with naked short-selling; files first

lawsuit.

2007: Files second short-selling lawsuit, against Wall Street.

2014: Overstock becomes first major

retailer to accept bitcoin as payment.

2016: Byrne takes medical leave, due to complications from

hepatitis C.

2017: Puts the retail business up for sale.

2019: Byrne reveals he is an FBI informant; resigns a month later.