Scamfluencers - Francois-Marie Banier: The French Connection Part 1 | 155

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

Francois-Marie Banier overcame indifferent parents to reach the heights of the Parisian art scene. His novels, plays, and photography gained him famous friends like Salvadore Dali, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and Johnny Depp. But he’s also known as a striving social climber who seeks the affections of older French women to bankroll his artistic projects. When he’s hired to photograph L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, at one point the richest woman in the world, they hit it off instantly. As they grow closer, Liliane starts lavishing Francois-Marie with gifts: jewelry, real estate, and lucrative consulting contracts. But when she makes him the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, Liliane’s daughter takes notice. She thinks Francois-Marie is taking advantage of the aging, possibly demented heiress. Liliane’s daughter, and household staff, start monitoring Francois-Marie’s every move. Soon, this palace intrigue will go far beyond France’s wealthiest family, leading to lawsuits, secret recordings, and shocking revelations that will captivate all of France. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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No, I don't think so. I don't think I don't I wouldn't really know but I don't I guess it hasn't been awkward enough that I've thought about it. Yeah, and you've been pretty gainfully employed for a while. I've been the broke friend many times. And also the not-so-broke friend with a friend who's more broke. And my rule now is that it all just comes out in the wash, you know? Yeah.

Well, Sachi, today's story is so beyond crazy. I don't even know how to describe it. On its face, it's about a financially unbalanced friendship that becomes major tabloid fodder. But this scam will explode into a national scandal that uncovers decades of crime. It's late 2006 at a bank in Paris. Claire Thibault stands in front of a giant steel door

leading to a safe. She taps her foot nervously as an employee opens the safe door. Claire is in her late 40s with a shiny blonde bob and blue eyes. For more than a decade, she's worked as an accountant for Liliane Betancourt, the heiress to the L'Oreal fortune

and the richest woman in the world. Being an accountant for such a wealthy family is a tough job. Claire has to keep track of all the money moving through the Betancourt mansion. And recently, Claire has witnessed some weird and worrying transactions. When the bank employee finally opens the safe door,

Claire walks into a six-foot tall room lined floor to ceiling with jewelry. It's basically like the cave full of gold and jewels in Aladdin. This whole collection is uninventory and uninsured. Claire is the only person outside of the family with a key, and she only comes here on the rare occasion Liliane needs a piece to wear to an event. But recently, Liliane asked Claire to empty all the jewelry from the vault and bring it home to her.

The heiress has always been generous with her close friends, including her BFF, a photographer named François-Marie Bagnier. She loves to shower him with fancy gifts and dinners, but lately, the gifts have become excessive, and Claire suspects that Francois Marie is pressuring Liliane to take her jewels out of the safe. Liliane is 84 years old, and her memory has been faltering.

She often seems confused, and a few people have expressed concern that she's showing early signs of dementia. Claire is convinced that Francois Marie is taking advantage of her mental state to bleed her dry of her assets, starting with these jewels. When Claire initially refused to empty the bank vault, Liliane just sighed. She said that maybe Francois Marie is right. Maybe Claire doesn't want to get the jewels

because she's already stolen them for herself. I mean, I would do that. Hey, uninsured and unaccounted for. Yeah, I'm going to take a ring or a necklace. Very, very open to stealing one diamond. Yes. Well, Claire is here today with her lawyer and a photographer to inventory the massive collection and prove she hasn't stolen anything. François-Marie's accusations have wounded Claire deeply.

And as they take inventory of the collection, Claire decides it's time to act. If Liliane won't listen to her warnings about François-Marie, then Claire is going to have to bring her concerns to Liliane's family. Tensions have been simmering between François-Marie and Lil Lyon staff, and Claire is about to bring the conflict to a boil. The scandal she unleashes will go far beyond upstairs-downstairs intrigue, all the way to the very highest corners of the French government. Looking for the ultimate online casino experience? Step into the BedMGM Casino app, where every deal, spin and gold brings Las Vegas excitement

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From Wondery, I'm Sarah Hagge. And I'm Saatchi Cole. And this is Scamfluencers. Today is the first in our two-part series about the biggest French scandal you've probably never heard about. When Francois-Marie Bagnier befriended the richest woman in the world, she showered him with gifts and financed his creative projects.

He saw Liliane Bettenpour as his patron, but some people, including her family, suspected she was being conned. But in trying to expose Francois-Marie as a ruthless gold digger, the family unwittingly exposes a web of corruption involving the most powerful people in France, including the country's president.

And what starts as a family dispute quickly becomes one of the biggest and messiest political scandals in French history. Through it all, the whole world is left wondering, is François-Marie really a crook? Or did Liliane share her wealth with him because he's worth it? This is François-Marie Bagné, The French Connection, Part 1. To understand the scandal that gripped France in the early 2000s, we need to go back a few decades to 1954 in Paris.

Seven-year-old Françis-Marie is eating dinner with his family in a chic apartment building on a tree-lined street. He has curly blonde hair, green eyes, and giant, adorable ears. Francois-Marie is a lively, curious kid. He loves painting and writing and can talk about art for hours.

But his love of art sets him apart from the rest of his family. Francois-Marie later says that his parents, quote, believed in nothing, but they believed in nothing very strongly. It feels like his dad wants to punish Francois-Marie simply for being different. Francois-Marie has two brothers, but he's usually the sole target of his father's explosive temper. He has said that his dad hit him often, and when he was really angry, he even beat his son's head against the ground. Francois-Marie also said his mother never stepped in to defend him.

She's more concerned about keeping up appearances than keeping him safe. So, Francois-Marie looks elsewhere for affection. He spends much of his free time playing with the maids in his building. That's sad. Playing with the maids is objectively very sad. Bleak childhood. Yeah, and unfortunately, it's the kind of childhood we hear about often on this show. Sometimes during his school lunch period,

François-Marie sneaks out and sells his paintings to strangers on the sidewalk. He actually makes a decent amount of money this way. His work is crude and unrefined, but even as a kid, he's charismatic enough to convince people to buy it. And he's motivated. He wants to show his parents that even if they won't support his art, others will. As François-Marie grows older,

he's desperate to escape into a new life, one where he can make a name for himself as an artist and garner the affection he's always longed for. But to get there, he needs help. So he sets out to befriend the most influential people in Paris's art scene, starting with one of the most famous artists in the world. Paris' art scene, starting with one of the most famous artists in the world.

It's 1963, and 16-year-old François-Marie is standing in the lobby of Paris' famous Maurice Hotel. He's heard that Salvador Dali is staying here, so he's decided to try to get him to look at his portfolio. Dali represents everything Francois-Marie loves and everything his parents hate, anti-conformity and artistic freedom. So when he sees the artist in the hotel lobby, he goes right up to him. And somehow this tactic works. Dali agrees to look at Francois-Marie's portfolio.

After leafing through the pages, Dali shrugs. He tells Francois-Marie he hates his art. I feel like this is always a trope that like some famous artist is going to look at a portfolio from somebody on the street and be like, wow, you're it. And I think what actually happens is this, which this person gets bothered with your portfolio and is like, this sucks. I think this is more common than we realize. Absolutely. But Dali is captivated by the teen's personality and boldness. He even starts sending a Cadillac to pick up Francois Marie

after school every day so they can hang out. It's obviously very odd for an almost 60-year-old art legend to be hanging out with a high schooler, but Dali is a famously odd guy, and Francois-Marie is honored to be included in his world. At 17, Francois-Marie drops out of school, presumably to focus on schmoozing full-time. And two years later,

he finally moves out of his parents' place. By now, he's grown into a handsome young adult, tall and lean with dark golden curls and a disarming smile. With Dali's help, Francois-Marie gains entrée into Paris's art world. He's probably now spending all his free time writing and drawing, or talking about writing and drawing with fellow artists and creative types.

When he turns 20, one of Dali's friends gets him a job working as a press officer for Pierre Cardin, one of the world's hottest fashion designers. Sure, Francois Marie is barely an adult and has no relevant work experience, but when you're cute and charming and Salvador Dali is vouching for you, who could say no? Cardin was asked about his controversial

and baffling choice to hire Francois Marie in an interview with the Sunday Times. Will you read what he said? He said, What interests me is his life. He was clearly better than anyone else around me. This must be the hottest man in the world. He must be also just incredibly charming. I mean, even if he was, you know, a very remarkable young man,

this is such a crazy quote. And for the next few years, everything is coming up Francois Marie. He's surrounded by passionate artists at his glamorous job. His Rolodex of famous and influential Parisians keeps growing. He gets a boyfriend, an up-and-coming interior decorator named Jacques.

He even takes up photography as a fun hobby. It's everything he dreamed of as a child. The only thing that's missing is a launchpad for his own art. Hanging around famous artists is nice, but he wants success in his own right. And once he finally gets a taste of it, he'll do whatever it takes to keep it coming. he'll do whatever it takes to keep it coming. It's a Sunday afternoon in 1969, and Francois-Marie is seated at a dining table in a beautiful house in a suburb west of Paris.

He's likely wearing his go-to outfit, a white linen suit, and he's listening intently to the lunchtime conversation among France's literary elite. He's only 22, but Francois-Marie has leveraged his new connections to publish his first novel. It's called Second Homes. It's a satire about the bourgeois Parisian families who live empty lives, idolize money above all else, and spend their time gossiping about each other.

He set the novel in a small town outside of Paris where all the characters have second homes. It also happens to be very similar to the town where his family owns their country house. So it's a pretty clear dig at his own parents. Sarah, as you know, I am delighted when anybody writes about their family, but I have to know, is this book any good? It actually is. The book received good reviews and helped Francois-Marie earn a reputation as a wunderkind. He even starts getting invited to contribute guest columns for huge newspapers. He's emerging as one of the most successful French writers

of his generation. That's why he got invited to this fancy lunch today. It's hosted by the woman who founded Elle magazine and her husband, who founded a popular daily newspaper. This literary power couple holds weekly luncheons pairing France's elite, like Liliane Bettencourt, who's present today, with Paris's brightest stars. And now, Francois Marie is one of them. But it's possible that this early success and praise is getting to Francois Marie's head. When you're 22 and the world's telling you you're a creative genius,

you're likely to believe it. Case in point, in one of his newspaper columns, he interviewed the most fascinating person he could think of. Himself. Incredible. Incredible grift. Neither of us have ever interviewed ourselves because we thought we were the most fascinating people in the world.

No, but now I think I have to. That's so bold. It's so bold and crazy. But no one at this lunch is going to puncture his inflated ego. He's constantly surrounded and praised by the most powerful people in Paris who seem to totally buy his hype. Francois-Marie looks around the table and feels like nothing can stop him.

But the problem with a meteoric rise is the inevitable crash and burn. People are about to start questioning if Francois-Marie is really as talented as he thinks he is, and he might not be able to handle the heat. About three years after that lunch, Francois-Marie is sipping coffee in the apartment he shares with his boyfriend Jacques.

He's smiling down proudly at the issue of London's Sunday Times Magazine that just hit newsstands. Francois-Marie is now 25 years old and he's more successful than he could have ever imagined. He's still writing columns and essays for France's biggest newspapers. Last year he published his second novel to rave reviews and his group of famous friends is ever expanding. Now he's promoting his third book called Head First which comes out in the fall.

And promotion is clearly going well because the magazine's cover star this week is him. This is a big deal. Francois Marie is only the third author to ever be on the magazine's cover. Sachi, could you describe it? Oh, yeah, he's cute. It's him in profile, looking off into the distance. He looks a little like a Roman statuette that's kind of the figure he's cutting here.

And the headline is, Francois-Marie Benyat, Golden Boy of Paris. Oh, God. He must be unbearable after this. You would think so, but when Francois-Marie starts reading the article, his smile drops. Because it's not the glowing profile he expected.

Instead, the author casts Francois-Marie as a social climbing pretty boy who caught a lucky break. He calls Francois-Marie arrogant and says that his newspaper columns are, quote, futile and irritating. The journalist even mentions that self-interview Francois-Marie published as proof that he's too self-obsessed to have anything interesting to say. Francois-Marie doesn't help himself either.

He's quoted as saying, "'I'm not here to write with a message. Nothing is more tiresome than saying things.'" I'd like to add this nonsense quote to the larger pantheon of nonsense quotes from famous people. Like when Kylie Jenner said, I feel like this year is really about like the year of realizing things. Or when Kate Hudson said, I have a passion for wanting to do

things. I want to be a part of things that are going on. You know what? I remember when Kylie Jenner said that and she was right. It was the year of realizing things. Both of them are right. It was the year of realizing things and I too have a passion for being amongst things that are going on. Well, the article also calls out the critics who have given Francois Marie glowing reviews saying it's quote, difficult to know whether they're creating fashion or following it.

In the end, the journalist suggests that Francois Marie's success wouldn't be possible without the rich older people he seduced into friendship. And he questions whether Francois Marie's success is sustainable or whether he's already peaked. Francois Marie is furious. Sure, he's had help from his rich and famous friends, but he feels he earned his success.

However, it turns out that the piece reflects the tide of public opinion shifting away from François-Marie. He's young, beautiful, talented, and every rich Parisian is obsessed with him, and people are kinda over it. When his novel comes out, it's an immediate flop. François-Marie. When his novel comes out, it's an immediate flop. François-Marie starts questioning his own artistic merit.

And he's so scared to fail again that he stops writing novels altogether. Three years later, in 1975, François-Marie tries a new creative outlet, playwriting. With funding from an old magnet's wife, he writes and produces a play called Hôtel du Lac. Like his novels, the play criticizes the bourgeoisie of his upbringing. It opens to an audience of about 200 Paris elites, including his old friend Salvador Dali.

But despite a successful opening night, Francois Marie's play ultimately flops, as does another play he writes a few years later. With these recent failures and mounting skepticism from critics, Francois-Marie is feeling lower than ever. The public seems to be done with him, but he's still beloved by Paris' wealthiest elites. He's about to meet the wealthiest, most elite of them all, and form a connection

that will secure Francois Marie's status and infuriate everyone else. Hey, I'm Cassie De Peckel, the host of Wondery's podcast Against the Odds. In each episode, we share thrilling true stories of survival, putting you in the shoes of the people who live to tell the odds. In each episode, we share thrilling true stories of survival, putting you in the shoes of the people who live to tell the tale. In our next season, it's February 14, 1979. Elmo Wortman and his three children are stranded on a remote Alaskan island after a massive storm destroys their sailboat. Miles from help, they have to face the brutal cold with barely any food, only a sail for shelter and a leaky plastic dinghy. Desperate to survive, they build a raft and try to reach safety.

But as starvation and frostbite take hold and days stretch into weeks, their endurance is pushed to the limit. Follow Against the Odds wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen ad-free on the Amazon Music or Wondery app. Every successful business starts with an idea. And on the best idea yet, we're obsessed with those light bulb moments. Like how a bored barista invented the Frappuccino during his downtime, and then it got acquired by Starbucks. Or how Patagonia's iconic fleece was inspired by a toilet seat cover.

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or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+. And if this podcast lasts longer than 45 minutes, call your doctor. It's 1985 and Francois Marie is now 38 years old. His last novel was published more than a decade ago, and though he hates to admit it, his confidence in his writing never truly recovered after his work was panned. To fill the artistic void, Francois-Marie

transitioned to photography. And to his relief, he's already getting praise for it. A friend of his runs a magazine called Egoist and started publishing his photographs a few years ago. But writing is still Francois-Marie's first love. And he's been quietly toiling away at a new book. After a 13-year hiatus from the literary world, he's finally ready to put himself out there again.

His new novel, Balthazar, Son of a Good Family, largely draws on details from his own life. It's about a curious and sensitive boy growing up with an abusive father and an aloof mother. In the book, the character of Balthazar forges relationships with older, well-connected elites, especially one rich older woman, who he charms and flatters in exchange for gifts.

They form a sort of cynical, symbiotic relationship. The young man makes her feel special, and in return, she gives him everything he wants. I know this guy's annoying, and I'm sure he's a terrible writer, but I would read this book. This does sound like a good book. It does sound like a good book, and you know what? The book becomes a bestseller, and Francois-Marie is overjoyed and invigorated by the response. But to some, Balthazar seems less like fiction and more like the author's reality.

Over the years, Francois-Marie has had a few friendships that look like this, where he's benefited from the generosity of older women who've offered him career opportunities and financial aid to fund his work. One of these women is Madeleine Castan. She's a famous interior decorator. Francois-Marie first met her around 15 years ago when he was 22 and she was 75. Over the years they've developed a sweet friendship. Francois Marie is fascinated by her involvement in the art world and Madeleine likely appreciates having someone young and lively around. In 1981 Madeleine actually puts Francois Marie on the map as a photographer by letting

him take a photo of her in a nightgown without her wig on. It's a controversial and intimate image and it remains one of his most famous photographs to date. Sasha, could you describe it? Yeah, it's this little old lady holding her cane and her wig and her hair is a little disheveled. She's these big twiggy eyelashes. It's a good photo. It's a great photo. Yeah, it's very evocative. Yeah.

A woman of that age and that position, like, you wouldn't really see her stripped down in that way. Yeah. It feels vulnerable, but it does feel consensual. It's not, like, a creepy photo, but it does... There's a lot of vulnerability in it. Well, Madeleine's family doesn't approve of the friendship. Her grandson thinks Francois Marie is after her money

and even accuses him of stealing things from her home. And while some people admire that famous photo of Madeleine, others see it as exploitation of a vulnerable older woman. Francois Marie is deeply bothered by all of this. He insists the two of them are just friends and that he's not taking advantage of her at all. If she wants to give him the occasional gift and take him out for nice meals, who's he to stop her? But everything takes a darker turn when rumors start swirling that François-Marie isn't just manipulative and demanding, he's also

violent. Madeleine's grandson alleges that after Madeleine refused to give François-Marie isn't just manipulative and demanding, he's also violent. Madeleine's grandson alleges that, after Madeleine refused to give François-Marie a gift he wanted, he entered a fit of rage and pushed her down the stairs. Okay, I know there's a lot of confusion around this guy and what he did and didn't do, so is this true? The allegation has never been substantiated, and Francois-Marie staunchly denies it.

But still, people around Paris start whispering that he'll do anything for wealth, including hurting those who care for him. Two years after the Balthazar book comes out, Francois-Marie gets a call from his friend at Égouiste magazine. She needs a photographer for a feature, and the subject is none other than Liliane Betancourt. Francois-Marie is about to meet the grandest dam of all and charm his way into her inner circle by giving her the one thing no one else has dared to. Sass.

It's 1987 in an exclusive suburb of Paris. Liliane Betancourt is fixing her lipstick in the mirror. She's 65 years old with an iconic look she's sported for decades. Perfectly coiffed dark brown hair, high cheekbones, and the chicest wardrobe in France. We have a photo of her from around this time. What do you think, Sachi? She's the most beautiful woman in the world. She looks like Cruella DeVille. She's wearing a fur coat that I think is made of puppies. She has Margaret Thatcher hair. Her eyebrows are so pointy. I'm so afraid of her. She looks like she is worth one billion dollars. I would like to be one of her purses. Yeah, she's obviously a very stunning woman who looks moneyed as hell.

Liliane hears a buzzing sound coming from outside. She looks out the window to see a man riding an old blue motor scooter towards the mansion. A moment later, a member of Liliane's staff knocks at her bedroom door. The photographer is here. The French culture magazine Egoiste recently approached Lillian and asked to write a feature about her life. Lillian was hesitant. She's famously private and press shy.

But one of her best friends vouched for the magazine, so she agreed. As heiress to the L'Oreal fortune, Lillian has led a very comfortable life. Her father founded the company nearly 80 years ago, and as an only child, she inherited the empire. By the late 80s, she's worth around $2 billion. But despite all her fortune, Lillian is unhappy. Her days are quiet and repetitive, filled with meetings and stuffy luncheons with other socialites. She's been with Andre, her politician husband since the 50s, and though they have a good

marriage, it's not particularly exciting. They have an adult daughter, Francoise, but the two have never been close. Even as a kid, Francoise was introverted and bookish, making it hard for Liliane to connect with her. Liliane's life feels empty, and she's filled with a crushing sense of loneliness and stagnation. And now, this magazine profile is forcing her to think about all that she's done and what she wants for her future.

You know, I'm relieved to know that even the rich are miserable. What a comfort that they are also having existential crises. Yeah, and you know what? I don't see it as valid. I'm sorry. I didn't say it was valid. It's just nice to know they're also unhappy. Yeah, it's nice to know that they're also like, what am I doing with my life?

Bitch, you're rich. That's what you're doing with your life. Anyway. The photographer bounds into the room, a 40-year-old Francois Marie Bagnet. He greets her informally, then immediately frowns at the lipstick she just applied. He says the color washes her out and she needs to take it off.

And the pants she's wearing, those are even worse. He asks Lillian if he could look through her wardrobe, and he gets to work picking out a new outfit as he asks her questions about herself. Lillian is stunned. People simply do not speak to her this way. They're so intimidated by her well that they don't treat her like a real, actual person.

It's refreshing. I can't imagine living the kind of life where when people insult you, you're kind of delighted because it means they're finally telling you the truth. I do feel like this is the correct tactic when it comes to someone who doesn't really have power over you, but also everyone's weird around them. Yeah.

It's kind of like when you're around a celebrity, you're supposed to pretend they're not one. Yeah, I mean, and also like flattery won't work on her. No, it won't work on her. She's heard it all. And when the article comes out, Liliane is taken with the glossy black and white photos. They're simple and understated.

She's in the clothes Francois Marie picked out, her arms crossed in front of her as she smiles at something off camera. She doesn't look like the richest woman in the world, she just looks like a woman. Liliane loves the feature article too, which Francois Marie actually helped edit. In it, she talks plainly about money and power. She says that she struggles with the fear that people are only after her money. It becomes the focus of the entire article

and inspires the headline. Translated from French, it reads, "'After a certain number, people go insane.'" Liliane has been desperate for a genuine connection, and she seems to have found it in François-Marie. And as they grow closer, Liliane will lower her defenses and start trusting him with her time, her secrets, and her money.

It's 1991, four years after the photo shoot. Liliane and Francois-Marie are sitting together at a swanky restaurant in the heart of Paris. Since Francois-Marie took those pictures, the pair have grown closer. They often spend hours in restaurants or cafes chatting away. François-Marie accompanies her to the stuffy socialite events she has to attend, which makes them more fun. Her life feels brighter and fuller. She's thrilled to have a friend by her side.

Whenever they're apart, they write endless letters back and forth. Though François-Marie is gay and Liliane has a husband she loves, he almost feels like a partner to her, someone she can confide in and who she always wants to be around. Here's a picture of them at a cosmetics industry event together around this time. Could you describe it? Yeah, it's Francois-Marie and Liliane together. It's very mother-boy. They look like an adult son and his mommy. Which is also, you know, sometimes the vibe

with a young gay man and the rich dowager taking care of him. It's truly mother-boy. Yeah. They look as thick as thieves to me. And you can tell. Yeah, they look close. And at this lunch, they're talking about Francois Marie's career. Through one can tell, yeah, they look close. And at this lunch, they're talking about Francois Marie's career.

Through one of his many connections, he was recently offered an exhibition for his portraits at the Pompidou Centre, Paris' massive, world-renowned modern art museum. It's a huge deal, especially since he's never done a gallery show. Francois Marie wants to publish a photo book to accompany the show, but the publisher needs about $50,000 to make this happen. His good friend Yves Saint-Laurent had offered to cover the cost,

but Francois-Marie ended up turning him down. Yves wanted a photo of his boyfriend included in the book. But Francois-Marie and Yves' boyfriend Pierre do not get along. Pierre has accused Francois-Marie and Yves' boyfriend Pierre do not get along. Pierre has accused Francois-Marie of being a social climber whose only claim to fame is to, quote, seduce old people. And ever since that Sunday Times article way back in 1972, this kind of criticism hits Francois-Marie hard.

So now, Francois-Marie is searching for a new source of funds for his photo book. Liliane reaches across the table and grabs Francois-Marie's hand. She offers to help fund his project. In fact, she can write the check immediately. Francois-Marie thanks her and happily accepts. I mean, this is very nice of her, but it is not the kind of thing that's going to kill those rumors that he is sucking up to these older ladies. No, it definitely won't, and as they wrap up their lunch, a waiter comes by with the

bill which Liliane covers as usual. In their four years of friendship, Liliane has treated François-Marie to endless lunches and little gifts. But this is the first time she straight up gives him money. And though this feels like a small favor to her, people are about to start questioning who really benefits from this friendship, including Liliane's daughter.

It's a hot day in July, 1993, on the rocky shoreline of France's West Coast. Francois' Betancourt Myers is visiting her parents' second home with her husband and their two young kids. Today, they're all sitting outside enjoying their lunch with a view, along with Francois Marie. Just to be clear, since their names are similar, Francoise is the daughter,

Francois Marie is the friend slash photographer slash potential grifter. Francoise is 40 years old with sleek dark hair and high cheekbones she inherited from her mom. She's still bookish though and wears stylish oversized glasses that dominate her face. Sachi, could you describe her in this photo? Francoise looks like every French teacher I ever had,

obviously. She is wearing big, thick-rimmed black glasses. She has black hair, big cheekbones, and a look of slight concern on her face. And she looks moneyed like her mom, you know? Well, François and Liliane have never been particularly close. And they've grown even further apart since Françoise got married and started a family.

But ever since François-Marie entered the picture six years ago, she sees even less of her mother. To Françoise, the whole thing feels fishy. She and François-Marie are close in age. They could be siblings. So why is he so obsessed with her mom? Liliane hasn't given Francois Marie any more cash since she funded the photo book a few years back.

But she's constantly treating him to fancy lunches and she's even brought him along on this lavish vacation. And recently, she started talking about drafting a long-term contract for Francois Marie to work as a creative consultantterm contract for Francois Marie to work as a creative consultant and photographer for L'Oreal. The contract would give Francois Marie over $900,000 a year. Do you know what a creative consultant is?

Like what is consultancy? They don't do anything. Right. So can I be a consultant? Yes, you can. I'm happy to make this much money with a fake job title. I'm open to it. Dude, we can I be a consultant? Yes, you can. I'm happy to make this much money with a fake job title, I'm open to it. Dude, we could have been consultants yesterday.

It's not a real job. Yeah. Podcasting is though. Yes, we have real jobs. Don't look under the hood. Everybody keep it moving. Well, Francoise is certain that Francois Marie is after her mom's money.

And even if he isn't, she just hates being around him. He's rude and crass, which he puts on full display at this lunch. The photographer reportedly asks André, Léliens' husband, about his pro-Germany position in the Second World War, and André looks uncomfortable. Everyone looks uncomfortable. World War II is never a

pleasant lunchtime conversation, but especially not for this family. André was vocally anti-semitic during the early days of World War II, which he chalks up to, quote, youthful mistakes. On top of that, Lillian's dad, the man who founded L'Oreal, was also anti-semitic and pro-Nazi, and his company thrived with the help of the Nazi regime. This family's wealth is deeply connected to Nazi history. It's a fact that no one likes to discuss, but especially not Francoise, who's attending this lunch with her Jewish husband

and the two sons she's raising in the Jewish faith. So the brazen way Francois-Marie is bringing it up makes her very uncomfortable. I think this is very cool lunchtime talk and totally appropriate. If you're gonna love Nazis, people will be bringing that up and you just have to accept that. That is part of the deal.

Very reasonable. Well, a bit later, Francoise pulls her parents aside and says no one should talk to them this way. It's not proper. But André brushes her off. He likes having Francois Marie around. It's good to be challenged. But Francoise isn't buying it. From this point forward, she decides she doesn't want to be around Francois Marie anymore. She hopes her mom will understand and maybe even stop inviting him everywhere. But Francoise will soon realize this isn't an ultimatum she's going to win. When it comes to people Liliane wants around, friendship trumps blood. And as Liliane's friendship with Francois Marie

grows closer and more expensive, the billionaire will cast aside anyone who disapproves of it. What if your mind could trick your body into feeling sick, or even worse? In Hysterical, I investigate the bizarre medical mystery could trick your body into feeling sick. Or even worse. In Hysterical, I investigate the bizarre medical mystery that unfolds in a high school in upstate New York. It starts with one girl developing strange, violent symptoms. And then another.

And then another. Rumors begin to swirl. Is it something in the water? Inside the school? Or is it all in their heads? Hysterical is my search for answers. And along the way, I uncover surprising connections to unexplained incidents around the world. Events that challenge everything we think we know about our bodies and our minds. Named Podcast of the Year at the Gambys, Hysterical is a mind-bending, unforgettable ride. Binge all episodes right now, exclusively ad free on Wondery Plus. Start your free trial of Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts. In the early hours of December 4th 2024 CEO Brian Thompson stepped out onto the streets of Midtown Manhattan. This assailant starts firing

at him. And the suspect, he has been identified as Luigi Nicholas Mangione. Became one of the most divisive figures in modern criminal history. I was meant to sow terror. He's awoking the people to a true issue. Listen to Law and Crime's Luigi exclusively on Wondery+. You can join Wondery+, the Wondery app, Spotify or Apple podcasts. I feel like I like to like you. Apple podcasts. It's 1994, one year after that tense seaside lunch.

Francois Marie is sitting in a big, beautiful apartment in the heart of Paris. He's lived here for almost 20 years. Initially, he just bought one unit in the building, but he now owns three, including a studio space for his work. François-Marie is here having lunch with his bestie Liliane. Liliane is now 72 and dealing with chronic back pain and mobility issues. He wants to make sure she's as comfortable as possible here, which is why he recently had an elevator installed. Francois-Marie knows that their friendship is still causing strain between Liliane and her daughter.

But Liliane's support for Francois-Marie hasn't wavered. She's actually followed through in securing those hefty L'Oreal contracts for him, putting her commitment to Francois-Marie in writing and in a paycheck. Francois-Marie's future feels bright. But as the two eat a meal his private chef prepared, Liliane looks out the window and shakes her head.

She says, Francois-Marie still deserves more. He should have more space to work and breathe. And she knows just the person to help, herself. Soon, Liliane starts to buy up the other apartments around Francois Marie's units. And by 1997, she's bought him the entire building. Hey, that's crazy, cause that is an investment that really accrues in value over time.

Nothing like real estate is a gift. Yes, but we are also talking about the richest woman in the world. So, you know, chump change. This is also the first big handout Lillian's given him since his Pompidou show six years ago. And as Francois Marie watches her age, he thinks it makes sense. With her declining health and endless fortune,

Lillian's probably realizing she has more money than she'll ever be able to spend. So why not share it with her best friend of a decade? But honestly, Francois Marie doesn't seem to need any help financially. He's become more famous as a photographer, and he's doing very well for himself. The backlash he experienced as a young, brash, and full-of-himself artist has faded. He may not be Paris's golden boy anymore, but he's not a target for critics either. He's a successful artist who has a respect and

admiration of the famous and wealthy circle of friends he's accumulated. And he now owns a mansion in the south of France, where he and Lillian sometimes travel with friends like Faye Dunaway, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and Johnny Depp. In fact, Francois Marie and Johnny Depp are so close that he actually becomes Lily Rose Depp's godfather when she was born in 1999. So while Francois Marie appreciates Liliane's generosity, he doesn't seem to need it. Still, if his best friend, who again, is the richest woman in the world,

wants to splurge on him, why would he refuse? Liliane and Francois-Marie spend the late 90s living large, cruising through art galleries and auction houses. Francois-Marie helps Liliane pick out paintings by the masters to liven up her drab mansion. In early 2001, Lilianeiane tells François-Marie to meet her at a random office building.

It's a notary office, and they're here because, after Léliane dies, she wants him to inherit some of the paintings they've purchased together. This is a huge gift. The paintings were valued at around 17 million euros at the time and are worth nearly $100 million today. François-Marie is stunned, but Liliane insists this is what she wants.

She actually writes her reasoning for this gift in her will. Sachi, will you read it? She says it's a quote, token of my gratitude for the moral and effective aid "'that Francois-Marie Bagnet has offered me. "'I am indebted to him on an emotional level "'for his long and constant support. "'I have been through some difficult moments.

"'As strange as it might seem, he has been a great help.'" I mean, it sounds nice and it could be sincere. I just can't tell, because this guy has a grifty energy around him. Yeah, but I mean, she did write it. And a notary was present. Yeah. On the day she went to the notary, Liliane told François-Marie that, quote, I have decided to give you the paintings that we bought together. It's a road we have traveled together. It's our history.

François-Marie is touched. He and Liliane have been close for nearly 15 years, and she clearly knows how much this artwork means to him. She smiles and thanks her, and signs on the dotted line. But as Liliane grows older and her generosity increases, more people will start to question Francois-Marie's true intentions. Because it seems like the more her health declines, the more Francois Marie lines his own pockets.

It's late 2006 in Paris. It's a fateful day when Claire Thibault, Lillian's accountant, stands in front of a giant steel door leading to a bank safe. She taps her foot nervously as a bank employee opens the safe door. Claire has been a member of Lillian's staff for over a decade. It's a job she loves and feels grateful for, but it keeps her on her toes. The Betancour's have an enormous staff, and for some reason, everyone's paid exclusively in cash. And these aren't tiny salaries she's dealing with.

Claire herself makes 130,000 euros per year. The chef makes 10,000 per month. The lowest salary in the house is the gardener's, who earns a measly 3,500 euros per month. In short, there's a lot of cash-filled envelopes passing through the mansion, and Claire is responsible for all of it. Lately, a few transactions have raised Claire's alarm.

Around this time, the now 84-year-old Liliane transferred over the ownership of an island in the Seychelles to an international foundation that she funds. And while this might not seem shady, one of the beneficiaries is François-Marie. Liliane bought the island for $18 million and then put more than 50 million euros into upgrading it. She says she knows Francois Marie loves the island,

so she wants to make sure it goes to her dear friend when she passes. Claire, like most of the Betancourt staff members, has never particularly liked Francois Marie. They dread his visits to the mansion. He pees in the carefully tended flower beds outside and lays on Liliane's bed with his shoes on. He's not kind towards the staff.

And worst of all, they think he's rude to Liliane and doesn't treat her with the respect she deserves. But since he's been around for two decades at this point, everyone has gotten used to dealing with the chaos he brings into the mansion. But recently, his behavior seems to have shifted from rude to predatory. Francois-Marie seems to want more and more from the Léon, including the contents of the safe, which is pretty much a room filled with precious jewelry. Claire usually only comes down here when the Léon requests a specific piece of jewelry to wear to an event.

So the fact that lately her boss keeps asking her to empty the entire safe makes her nervous. It sounds like they're all working for a woman who is simultaneously very generous, has a lot of money and has money to spare, but is also in ailing health. And so like can be taken advantage of, and the reality is maybe has been, but maybe that's okay. And so now they're playing a game of like, how much is too much to push with the old lady. But they're all a little complicit, it sounds like.

Yeah, I mean, I think everyone she knows and provides for thinks that they are the one who has the most noble cause for Liliane to give them money, you know what I mean? Yeah. Well, Claire always refuses to empty the safe, explaining to Liliane that moving all the jewelry is a security risk. But she's also afraid that her boss is being manipulated

by Francois Marie. Liliane suffered a fall earlier this year that left her hospitalized, and she hasn't been the same since then. Her memory has been spotty, she often seems confused, and a few people have expressed concern that she's showing early signs of dementia. So Claire's convinced that Francois Marie is taking advantage of this to bleed Léliane dry, including these jewels. Claire isn't alone in this worry. Other members of the house staff also think Léliane is being taken advantage of.

Many of them have worked for Léliane for years and believe she just isn't as sharp and aware as she used to be. So they feel a duty to protect their boss from what they view as financial abuse at the hands of a man they have always hated. But the last time Claire said no to emptying the bank vault, Liliane accused her of having stolen the whole collection for herself. Claire is shocked by this accusation and is convinced François-Marie is behind it.

Liliane threatens to have her notary give Francois Marie the jewels instead. It's all of this that has led Claire to the bank today where she's come to inventory the jewelry collection with the help of a lawyer and a photographer. This way, she'll have proof nothing was stolen. It's worth noting that Claire herself isn't completely impartial.

She's also tried to reap the benefits of Liliane's generosity. A few years ago, Liliane gifted her 50,000 euros, and earlier this year, Claire apparently asked Liliane to buy three apartments for her as a treat. But still, in her mind, that's different. That was an act of appreciation towards a longtime employee. There's a lot of intrigue at the Betancourt Palace, and when a death strikes the family,

it will force everyone to pick sides. And in a family this rich and well-connected, it's hard to keep a scandal secret. It's December 2007 at the Betancourt mansion. Things have been particularly quiet lately. That's because last month, after 57 years of marriage, Liliane's husband Andre passed away. Liliane's daughter Francoise is mourning the loss of her father.

She's sure her mother, Liliane, is also struggling. But she doesn't know for sure, because for the past year, the pair have been estranged. Liliane cut ties with Francoise entirely, refusing to see her. Francoise is still hurt and angry that, in her eyes, Liliane chose Francois-Marie over her. But Francoise is also increasingly worried about her mother. Her family accountant, Claire,

recently told Francoise about what's been going on at the mansion. And what she described was scary. Claire says the staff is convinced Francois-Marie is up to no good. They want him gone. And they're willing to work with Francois to make that happen. After Andre's death, the tension reaches its peak because of what one housemaid allegedly overheard while she was cleaning the mansion. She says, Francois-Marie and Liliane had been chatting about inheritance, and he threw out a fun new idea. Perhaps Liliane could adopt him. If she did, he'd officially become an heir to the

L'Oreal fortune. This is where it's like, okay, fine, she bought you a bunch of apartments, she gave you all this cash, you're asking to adopt her? Now it's weird. Now it's very weird. Well, Sachi, François-Marie and Liliane staunchly deny that any talk of adoption ever took place. But it's the final straw for Francoise. Maybe she's just worried about her mother, or maybe she's worried about how it could impact her massive inheritance, because despite the tension with her mom, Francoise still stands to inherit most of the L'Oreal fortune.

Either way, her grief has given her clarity. She's now hell-bent on getting rid of Francois Marie. Francoise hires a lawyer and files a legal complaint against Francois Marie for the, quote, abuse of weakness. They allege that Francois Marie is knowingly taking advantage of Lillian's failing health for his personal gain. And she gets Claire and the other concerned employees to tell law enforcement

about what they witnessed in the mansion. They're all working in lockstep for one shared goal, Liliane's well-being. But not everyone sees it this way. As Francois launches her legal battle, Liliane and much of the French public will claim Francoise is the opportunistic one, that she's a greedy heiress who doesn't want to share her inherited wealth. Still, she'll stop at nothing to take down Francois Marie, even if it means causing a media scandal and jeopardizing her family's reputation. Francoise's vendetta against one man

is about to unearth tawdry and criminal details about her family and lead to the biggest political scandal in France's history. It will involve tax evasion, bribery, and even an indictment of the president of France. And no one will come out unscathed. Loving scam influencers, get exclusive episodes and early access to new ones all ad free on Wendree+.

Join now in the Wendree app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Before you go, help us out by taking a quick survey at wendree.com slash survey. This is Francois-Marie Bagnier, The French Connection, Part 1. I'm Sarah Hagie. And I'm Saatchi Cole. If you have a tip for us on a story that you think we should cover, please email us at scamfluencers at Wondry.com. We use many sources in our research. A few that were particularly helpful were The Betancour Affair, The World's Richest Woman

and The Scandal That Rocked Paris by Tom Sancton and his two-part series, Betancour Affair and Vanity Fair, Enfant Terriable by Amy Fine Collins for Vanity Fair, Une Affaire de Famille by Joshua Levine for Forbes, the Netflix documentary, The Billionaire, The Butler and The Boyfriend, and Media Parts Reporting.

Gabrielle Drolet wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Sachie Cole, and Sarah Hagge. Olivia Briley is our story editor. Fact-checking by Lexi Peary. Sound design by James Morgan. Additional audio assistance provided by Augustine Lim. Our music supervisor is Scott Velazquez for Freesan Sync. Our managing producer is Desi Blaylock.

Our senior managing producer is Callum Plews. Janine Cornelo and Stephanie Jens are our development producers. Our associate producer is Charlotte Miller. Our producer is Julie Magruder. Our senior producers are Sarah Enni and Ginny Bloom. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Luley, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery. In the early hours of December 4th, 2024, CEO Brian Thompson stepped out onto the streets of

Midtown Manhattan. This assailant pulls out a weapon and starts firing at him we're talking about the CEO of the biggest private health insurance corporation in the world. And the suspect he's been identified as Luigi Nicholas Mangione became one of the most divisive figures in modern criminal history was targeted premeditated and meant to sow terror. I'm Jesse Weber host of Luigi

produced by law and crime and twist this is more than a true crime investigation we explore a uniquely American moment that could change the country forever. He's awoken the people to a true issue. Finally maybe this would lead rich and powerful people to acknowledge the barbaric nature of our healthcare system. Listen to Law and Crime's Luigi exclusively on Wondery+. You can join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Spotify, or Apple podcasts.