“Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.” ~ Samuel Butler

 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, you’ve no doubt heard the name Bernie Madoff.  He’s the slick financial investor who bilked the rich and famous and not-so-famous but rich folks out of their hard earned money in a $60 billion ponzi scheme.  Madoff is among the top 17 of the World’s Biggest Liars according to Time Magazine. 

And yes, there are some women on this list–although their lying schemes weren’t nearly as earth shattering.  Take Rosie Ruiz for example.  All the 23-year-old New Yorker wanted to do in 1980 was win a race so she jumped into the Boston Marathon during the final half-mile and was declared with winner.  She became the first woman ever to win that event.  When folks noticed she didn’t break a sweat, suspicions arose and spectators came forward to say she entered the race near the end.  She ended up being disqualified.  It was also discovered she had cheated in the New York Marathon as well—by riding the subway at various points.

Then there was Janet Cooke who won a Pulitzer Prize for a story she wrote in the Washington Post in 1980 about an 8-year-old heroin addict.  That wasn’t true either and she had to give her coveted prize back.

To check out the other 15 click here:  Liars