Watch Breaking the Bank

In the years following Kerviel's sentencing, certain testimonies, including from an investigator in the financial crimes division, share the belief that some Societe Generale employees had knowledge of their former trader's actions, illuminating the deep flaws of the global financial system.

As the media fixates on his whereabouts, Kerviel is forced into hiding. Then, after the state presses criminal charges, Kerviel breaks his silence -- exploiting the media's obsession with him to rally public opinion while accusing his former employers of encouraging his behavior.

Throughout 2007, Kerviel's reputation within Societe Generale and his team, Delta One, continues to rise. In January 2008, the bank discovers Kerviel's billions in hidden trades, kicking off a frantic race against time to unwind his positions and avert a catastrophic market crash.

In January 2008, Societe Generale announces a sudden loss of €4.9 billion, launching an investigation that leads back to a single trader. Earlier, a young Jerôme Kerviel starts his financial career in Paris, rising through the ranks by betting big on market declines from events such as the London terrorist attacks and the global recession -- risks which soon pay dividends.