Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli Offers Survival Tips to Sam Bankman-Fried Ahead of Possible Jail Time: 'Sam Is Going to Have a Lot of Issues' Sam Bankman-Fried "isn't exactly gonna be somebody that fits into prison," Shkreli said.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Spencer Platt/Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Martin Shkreli a.k.a. "Pharma Bro," has some advice from one ex-con to one accused fraudster.

Shkreli – who gained infamy in 2015 as a pharmaceuticals CEO that hiked the price of a lifesaving drug from $13 to $750 and was later found guilty of securities fraud — offered some slammer survival skills to now-disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on crypto journalist Laura Shin's, "Unchained" podcast.

Ahead of Bankman-Fried's looming legal battle and possible incarceration, Shkreli said he should prepare for prison life and "reinvent" himself if he wants to make it behind bars.

"Sam is going to have a lot of issues because he is a bit of an effeminate guy and his demeanor — some people say autistic sort of sense, or sensibility — is not something that goes over well in prison," Shkreli said.

Shkreli was sentenced to prison in 2017 and released this past May after serving five years of a seven-year sentence.

Related: Who Is FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried and What Did He Do? Everything You Need to Know About the Disgraced Crypto King

Bankman-Fried, a.k.a. SBF, was arrested in the Bahamas earlier this month on several criminal fraud charges. He could face up to 115 years in prison after allegedly stealing billions in customer funds in a Ponzi Scheme between crypto exchange FTX and Alameda Research crypto trading firm. After being extradited to the U.S., SBF was released on a $250 million bond and is living with his parents in California as he awaits trial.

Shkreli's other advice includes saying SBF should shave his head, deepen his voice, and brush up on rap music, gangs, and "criminal culture."

While Shkreli said these changes "could save your life" on the inside, he also said the former crypto entrepreneur should hide his Ivy League education and privileged roots.

"He should probably start to reinvent his background and history because the rich white kid from a good neighborhood — that story doesn't sound great," Shkreli said.

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Business News

Hybrid Workers Were Put to the Test Against Fully In-Office Employees — Here's Who Came Out On Top

Productivity barely changed whether employees were in the office or not. However, hybrid workers reported better job satisfaction than in-office workers.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Gen Z Is Rejecting Office Jobs Due to Commuting and Clothing Costs, a New Study Finds

Workers who go into the office spend thousands more a year than those who don't — and Gen Z is already over it.

Business News

How Cardholder Misconduct is Driving Up Costs for Consumers and Leading to Poorer Customer Experience

New data suggests that cardholder misconduct is on the rise, and it's worrying for both merchants and consumers.