Scamfluencers - Prince Michael Romanoff: The High Prince of Hollywood | 164

Episode Date: June 23, 2025

Polish immigrant Hershel Geguzin fled to the U.S. from the faltering Russian Empire at the turn of the 20th century. And like many scammers around this time, he adopts a fabulous new identity: as Prince Michael Romanoff, the last living member of the former Russian ruling family. Everyone knows the new prince is lying about his royal heritage, but he’s such a good hang, he floats from party to party across the U.S. and Europe for decades. In the end, Prince Michael sets up shop in Hollywood, hosting mega-stars from Humphrey Bogart to Frank Sinatra. Prince Michael’s story is the ultimate lesson in faking it until you make it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, Scamfluencers fans, Sachi here. If you live for the outrageous stories and unbelievable cons that we cover, you need Wendree Plus. It's like sitting in the room with us as we unravel every twist. Ad-free a week ahead of everyone else and packed with exclusive content

you won't hear anywhere else. Start your free trial in the Wendree app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify now. A heads up to our listeners, this episode contains reference to someone being drugged without their knowledge or consent. Listen with care. Sarah, how much do you care about the Romanovs,

which is, you know, as you know, the last royal dynasty in Russia? You know, it's one of those things where I know about it because of Anastasia, the movie, but I feel like I should beasia, the movie, but I feel like I should be really interested in it, but I don't know where to start because there's just so much there. Okay, well the only reason I care about the family is because of the 1997 Fox Animation

Studios classic, Anastasia. I was gonna ask you if you've seen it as a kid, but it's clear you've seen it. Oh yeah, it was so, I mean, it's a very beautiful film, and the guy in it's so hot. Sarah? I was so ready to defend. Defend what? Beauty? To defend that movie being responsible for so much of my sexual awakening as a child. No, he's the hottest cartoon ever. It's crazy.

Ugh, God, okay. That's for another podcast later. Anyway, I'm bringing up this weird movie from our childhood because it's inexplicably related to yet another scam. You know what I loved about Anastasia? The idea that you could maybe secretly be royalty. And today's scammer combined that delicious potential with being a really fun hang, which made everyone want to believe in his highness.

["The Last Supper"] ["The Last Supper"] made everyone want to believe in his highness. It's a hot summer evening in 1927, and Theodore Lodiensky is on his way to a fabulous Hollywood dinner party. Theodore is in his early 50s. He's a tall, good-looking man with a thin mustache. He grew up in Russia and served as a general in their army until about 10 years ago.

He actually served with the Russian Imperial Guard, which means he was there when hundreds of thousands of disgruntled Russians revolted against the monarchy in 1917. Not long after, the Tsar, Nicholas Romanov, abdicated his throne. And the following year, Romanov and his entire family were executed, ending a 300-year-old dynasty. After the revolution, Theodore left Russia and moved to Los Angeles, where he makes a living playing Russian characters in movies.

Theodore is well-connected in the Russian expat community in the US. So naturally, he hears a lot of gossip, including stories about another Russian exile in LA who claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Russian royal family, Prince Michael Romanov. Michael is far from the only royal pretender. Around this time, a lot of people are claiming to be Romanov family members who somehow manage

to escape the revolution. And maybe some of them are actually distantly related. But Theodore believes Michael is a total fraud. Theodore claims he knew the actual Prince Michael back in Russia, and that guy is very much dead. Even more insulting to Theodore, the fake Michael has started working in the movie business. Fake Michael refuses to speak Russian,

and he treats Russian actors and extras on set badly. It's driving Theodore nuts. Okay, is this guy even Russian? That's what I'm now wondering. Me thinks no. No spoilers, but you might be onto something. For years, Theodore has been trying to expose this so-called prince to anyone who will listen.

But the thing about Michael is, everyone who meets him just seems to really like him. They'd rather be entertained by his lies than bored by the truth. Now, as Theodore walks into the house for the dinner party, he quickly spots his nemesis, and frankly, it's hard to miss him. Like Theodore, the so-called prince has a small,

neat mustache, but this guy is nearly a foot shorter than Theodore and is wildly overdressed in a tux and tails. Theodore steps directly in front of Michael, blocking his path, and tells Michael that he knows he's a liar. Theodore is pleased with himself. Surely now that the prince knows Theodore is onto him, he will run and hide in shame.

But Michael just smiles and tells him that, quote, Aromanoff never degrades himself by having controversy with an inferior. And then he walks away. Listen, that is true that Aromanoff probably would never publicly degrade himself with a controversy with an inferior, but it's also like, you're

in America now, bro. Also there's so many red flags, obviously this guy's a liar, but that would piss me off if I was like, I know you, and the person's like, a true prince must never reveal his secrets. I'm like, I'm going to kill you now. Yeah, well, much like you, Theodore is also so furious that shortly after the party, he calls up a local paper to tell them about this faker. The Los Angeles Examiner runs a front-page story

exposing Prince Michael Romanoff as a fraud. And this finally gets Michael to leave town. Theodore thinks he's won, but he doesn't know that this isn't the first time Michael's scam has been exposed, and it won't be the last. Michael is extremely charming and utterly shameless. And he's going to give a whole new meaning to fake it until you make it. My name is TJ Raphael.

I'm the host of Liberty Lost, a new podcast about who gets to be a mother and the control of young women hidden behind the veil of faith. Binge all episodes of Liberty Lost ad-free right now on Wondery+. It's your girl Kiki, and if you haven't heard, baby, this is Kiki Palmer. You are missing out on where the real tea is getting spilled. Y'all know I do it all, but this podcast is where I get to be my whole entire self with my people.

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I won't ever learn my lesson. Turn my speakers to 11. I feel like a legend. Long before Anna Delvey turned a fake accent into a scamming career, Prince Michael Romanoff faked his way into the company of the rich and famous. But unlike most of our scammers,

Michael gets found out again and again and again. And he just keeps scamming. Along the way, he sleeps in graveyards, cons his way into Harvard, and escapes Ellis Island twice. But after spending decades charming his way into the most exclusive circles, he makes a late in life turn

to the ultimate Hollywood kingmaker. I'm calling this one Michael Romanoff, the high prince of Hollywood. Lying is so critical to the man who will become Michael Romanoff that uncertainty surrounds his story literally from birth. Here's what we do know. He's born Herschel Gaguzin in the Russian Empire

in the late 1800s. American immigration officials will later claim that he was born in 1890, but his family says that even they aren't sure of the exact year. Herschel's parents are Jewish and working class, and he has five siblings. Their father dies a few months before Herschel is born.

Right from the jump, Herschel is a menace. He doesn't like school or chores and sometimes runs away to avoid doing them. There's a lot of antisemitism in 1890s Russia, and his mom is terrified that he'll be kidnapped and killed. So when an extended family member decides to move to New York, she pays them to take Hershel, too. Hershel's first American home is a lower east side tenement.

There's no indoor bathroom and barely any plumbing. Herschel's first American home is a lower east side tenement. There's no indoor bathroom and barely any plumbing. So Herschel picks up where he left off in the old country and he runs away. He's quickly picked up by an orphanage, but he's kicked out for bad behavior. From then on, Herschel goes on a kind of grand tour of local children's homes. At one point, he winds up at a facility in a Tony, Westchester suburb. And there, Herschel turns into a juvenile delinquent with a purpose.

Herschel's wealthy neighbors take an interest in the orphans coming up from the city. And he uses the opportunity to study the wealthy, their tastes, their habits, the way they speak. He learns how to talk to rich people and pull on their heartstrings with tales of his life as a poor little orphan boy. I mean, yes, as he should. What else would he be doing, right?

Yeah, this is the part of the scam I'm totally fine with. But then, in his late teens, Herschel gets put onto something called an orphan train, which is supposed to introduce city kids to the pleasures of country living and hard work. In Herschel's case, he's sent to work on a farm in central Illinois. He immediately flees the farm and convinces a local banker to take him in. But he messes things up with the banker and ends up out on the street again. Later, this banker says that Herschel was, quote, one of the most convincing liars you can imagine.

Eventually, Herschel is tired of being sent away in disgrace. So, like many Americans in search of sophistication, he starts looking for opportunities overseas. When he's 19 years old, Herschel gets a job on a cattle ship bound for England. And there, he'll take the idea of reinventing himself to a whole new level. It's 1921, Herschel is around 30 years old

and he's finally surrounded by the luxury he's always craved. He's sitting at the bar at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, having a drink. This is famously the place for American expats in the city. During the roaring 20s, both Ernest Hemingway and the Fitzgeralds are regulars. Herschel looks like he belongs here,

and that's because he spent the last decade transforming himself from an upstart ragamuffin into a sophisticated man of the world. When he first got off the cattle ship in England, he headed for Oxford, where he worked in a clothing repair shop. It's likely he also served as a personal valet to some of the students there,

helping him pick up an upper crust British accent, as well as an insider's knowledge of the aristocracy. Herschel's transformation didn't stop there. He started adopting different identities with names like Willoughby de Bourque, which got him invited to private, elite social clubs. But his new persona also got the attention of British immigration authorities, who realized he wasn't who he said he was. At that point, it was 1915, and the country was embroiled in World War I.

So Britain couldn't abort him. Instead, Michael was sent to a mental institution and then to prison. We don't know how he got from there to the Paris Ritz, but here he is. He's kept the accent, and he's found an identity that he likes even better than Willoughby. These days, Herschel is calling himself Prince Michael Alexandrovich Dmitry Obolensky Romanov. Like I mentioned before, this is the right time to be claiming you're an exiled Russian noble. For the last few years, the country has been torn apart by a civil war.

So it's not like anyone has the time or interest to fact check Michael's story. You think they would know who a prince is and who a prince isn't. Also, wouldn't someone want him dead? Yeah, you're asking the right questions, Sarah. Yeah, I mean, I know it's the past and they don't have the internet, but there are some pretty basic questions here. I agree. Simple questions. But the thing is, the Romanov persona, plus his natural charisma, have made Michael very popular.

People offer him everything from free drinks to loans to help this poor, down-on-his-luck former royal stay afloat. Michael always humbly accepts and assures them that he'll pay them back as soon as the Romanov family treasures arrive. They're just being shipped over from war-torn Russia, you see? Michael uses these ill-gotten gains to indulge in some very expensive tastes, some of which he can't afford even with the handouts.

He frequents the best tailors, bootmakers, jewelers, and tobacconists in Paris and London. In particular, he's become a fan of one of the most expensive tobacco brands in the world. It's called Royal Yacht, and it costs $10 a pound, which is nearly $180 a pound in today's money. I know that he probably has some goodwill getting loans from people,

and also he can justify it by saying that he's exiled, but that luck does run out eventually when you can't really turn your clout into anything else. Yeah, Sarah. Unsurprisingly, Michael's IOUs start piling up and shopkeepers take notice. One of the London tobacconists he frequents is suspicious enough to force Michael to pay cash upfront.

So Michael waits till the manager is on vacation to visit the shop again. Michael has finally found a shtick that works. But he's ready to up his game. So he's heading to America to try to make his mark on some of the biggest and most storied institutions in the world. In November of 1922, Michael hears about a ship called the President Adams,

which is about to set sail for New York. The US government is offering free passage to anyone who got stranded in Europe after the war and can't afford to come home any other way. Michael gets a spot on the ship, but when he gets to America, he has a problem. He has to clear customs, and he has no immigration records

that match his current legal name. Immigration officials aren't convinced that he's actually an American citizen, so they bring him to Ellis Island while they figure out what to do with him. Michael insists that he was born and raised in New York, but he can't answer any follow-up questions, like what neighborhoods he grew up in or where he went to school. So he decides to double down and comes up with his most self-destructive fib yet.

Michael explains that he has a hard time remembering things because he killed a German Baron in a duel and spent years in solitary confinement, which ruined his memory. This guy is stolen valor. It's one of the dumbest lies. It's too elaborate. You are an exiled prince. You can come up with different trauma. Yeah.

And I mean, this doesn't answer any of the immigration officers' questions. Plus, now they think he's a murderer. So they detain Michael on the island while they figure out what to do. But Michael goes back to his old habit of running away. He makes a daring escape, and a few weeks later, he's sitting in a suite at the Hotel Belmont. This place is a perfect fit for Michael's oversized dreams. It overlooks Park Avenue,

and its owners claim that it's the tallest hotel in the world. This is where Michael plans his royal reintroduction to America. Michael has called the press to let them know that a lost Russian prince has washed up on their shores. Now, reporters from publications like the New York Times are here at the Belmont to hear him out. Michael passes around letters of introduction from foreign nobles and well-known Americans

he says he met in Paris. We're not sure where he got them or how many of them are forged. Michael also tells the story of how he escaped from Ellis Island. He says he wrapped his belongings up in a scarf and held it between his teeth as he braved the Atlantic's waves.

When he arrived at land, there was a seawall blocking his way. belongings up in a scarf and held it between his teeth as he braved the Atlantic's waves. When he arrived at land, there was a seawall blocking his way. But luckily, some police officers were walking by. He called out to them and told them he'd fallen into the water after one too many cocktails. The officers gallantly helped him ashore. Immigration officers, for the record, claimed that he got a ferry boat captain to give him a ride. You know, the thing about him is that his lies are so fun. He's just like a wind-up doll, and everything he says is just a new, fun lie. I get wanting to hear more from him.

Yeah, well, Michael says the real reason that he's doing this press conference is because despite his connections, no one will give him a job. He's willing to do anything, sweep floors or operate elevators. Prince is because despite his connections, no one will give him a job. He's willing to do anything, sweep floors or operate elevators. But he claims that everyone assumes a prince is above such menial tasks. The New York Times publishes his story and claims to trace Michael's lineage back to

the 1300s. And this kind of publicity means he doesn't have to get a regular job. Instead, he gets fancy dinner invitations and is paid to give lectures all over Manhattan about, quote, Russia, past and present. Michael demands a police escort because he claims there are still people who want to take down the rest of the czar's family. Everything is working out perfectly, until Michael goes to pick up some of his favorite expensive tobacco.

It turns out that his nemesis, the shopkeeper from London, has been transferred to the New York store. And this guy recognizes Michael and starts spreading the word that he is not who he says he is. Truly, what are the odds? What are the odds that it's the same guy? Oh, my God, that's kind of beautiful. So Michael decides to take his show on the road. If an elite institution like the New York Times

will buy his story, he figures, why not go for gold? He heads north to Boston and shows up at Harvard. It's unclear if he actually enrolls in school or just starts hanging around campus, but Michael makes his usual splash. He strolls the quad in a monoc starts hanging around campus. But Michael makes his usual splash. He strolls the quad in a monocle and top hat. He spends a lot of time at the best hotel in town,

throwing parties, a wash, and champagne and caviar. But he can't afford his lifestyle. And when the hotel presents him with the bill, Michael throws a fit. He claims his people are used to settling their debts once a year, and he blows them off. And they threaten to press charges. At this point, Harvard gets involved and discovers that he's not really a Romanov.

Sarah, can you read what he reportedly says when Harvard officials confront him? Of course, he says, Gentlemen, I must decline to discuss the matter. You know, it's like there's something about these types of liars where they just say something so insane that you're kind of thrown off, which almost gives them an upper hand. Yeah. Where you're like, what? Wait a second.

You could just do that? You could just say I decline? Yeah, it's like he's in another reality. Yes, exactly. Well, Michael clearly can't stay in Cambridge any longer, but at least now he can claim to be a Harvard man. For Michael, there's no meaningful distinction between what's true and what's false. There's just whatever people want to believe.

But he's been living this double life for decades, and soon his body will start suffering the strain of all of his lies. It's August of 1924, and Michael is in the great hall of a mansion so grand it has a name. Sandy Point Farm. Sounds humble. But it's actually the Vanderbilt family's Rhode Island getaway, and it's beyond luxurious. With baccarat crystal chandeliers and tables gilded in literal platinum.

Tonight, Gloria Vanderbilt is throwing herself a 20th birthday party. And just to be clear, this Gloria is the mother of the one who will go on to become a famous jeans designer. Michael wasn't invited to this party, but he isn't worried. He's used to charming his way into fancy places. But Gloria has big dark eyes that seem to see right through him.

She starts asking pointed questions about Michael's background. He does his best to deflect her curiosity, but finally she's had enough. She tells him, "'The truth of the matter is that you are no more Prince Michael Romanoff than I am, because he does not exist.'"

I mean, props to Gloria, because she's famous enough to know who is impressive and who isn't. And she's just kind of like, nah, I know what's real and what's not you aren't it, bro Yeah takes a lot to face Gloria, but Michael isn't bothered by her accusation He's been discovered plenty at this point and honestly it's become part of his mystique This is smack dab in the middle of the roaring 20s and a lot of people think Michael is a gas to have at parties. It doesn't matter that he's lying as long as everyone around him is having fun.

So despite the occasional humiliation, Michael is fully committed to this double life. Publicly, he continues to claim that he's a prince, but when that doesn't work, he stays with family in New York. Michael's younger sister, Olga, managed to escape Russia and now has an apartment in Manhattan. She puts him up when he can't afford or convince anyone to give him anything better. But all of this lying seems like it starts to put Michael on edge. One time a restaurant gives him white fish eggs,

claiming they're Romanov caviar. And Michael is so offended... That he starts a fight with the restaurant owner and two waiters, which lands him in jail for a few days. His brushes with the law mean that more people are investigating Michael's past. At one point, a probation officer does some real digging, and he puts together a pretty damning picture of Michael's actual life so far and all of the lies he's told. Sarah, can you read what Michael says when the officer confronts him?

Yeah, he says, They cry for adornment. That is I. Frankly, I will lie to you as long as you know me. If I told you the truth, I would feel like a bare wall." Okay, no offense, but it's like, yeah, we all are insecure. It's kind of a thing you grow out of, dude. Yeah, you're right, you're right. Well, by January of 1927, Michael is in a bad way. He's still staying at his sister's, but he's not eating enough and his health is suffering.

But another glamorous high society event is coming up, the Beaux-Arts Ball. And just like the Vanderbilt Ball, he's not gonna miss it. The day of the event, Michael is drinking at a speakeasy, moaning to friends that he doesn't have a ticket. When they mockingly sympathize with him, Michael draws himself up and makes a promise.

He says at 1 a.m., he will make his entrance at the ball, wearing the best costume of the night. We don't know exactly how Michael gets his ticket. He probably uses one of his favorite tricks, standing outside the door with his hand out, waiting for someone to mistake him for a ticket taker and hand over their invite. However he gets in, as the clock strikes one, Michael bursts into the ballroom of the Hotel Astor,

dressed as an 18th century French king. His entrance is like an exclamation point on the night's festivities. Everyone is thrilled to see him defying expectations yet again. The sky truly lands on his feet. You know what it is with him? He's not trying a new grift.

He's so determined to find someone who will be convinced by him. And these little winds are what keeps him going, you know? Almost admirable. But being this fabulous has taken its toll. Michael hasn't been taking care of himself, and the next day, he collapses on the sidewalk. He's taken to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia and malnutrition.

Michael may have reached the end of his East Coast con, and he's already burned London and Paris. He needs a new home. But this time, it'll be in the land of true fakes. Hollywood. This is Nick. And this is Jack. We're best friends, ex-finance guys, and resident 90s experts. And every week on our podcast, The Best Idea Yet, we're bringing you the untold stories behind your favorite products. For instance, can you guess which billion dollar fashion company went viral thanks to a rhinestone covered tracksuit?

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This is about us, you and me, hanging out every week, getting into everything, from career moves to life drama to being a mom, this is about us, you and me. Hanging out every week, getting into everything, from career moves to life drama to being a mom, nothing is off limits. I'm always gonna be your girl Kiki, keeping it 100. So come through and join the conversation. Head over to YouTube if you wanna watch the full experience.

Or you can subscribe to Baby This is Kiki Palmer on the Wondery app, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want it early and ad free? Join Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Want it early and ad free? Join Wondery Plus right now. It's 1927, a few months since Michael's collapse on the sidewalk. He's at Grand Central Station preparing to say goodbye to New York. After he got out of the hospital, some of his friends sat him down. They said they thought it was time for him to leave the cold, damp East Coast.

So they pooled their money and they bought him a one-way train ticket to LA. And now Michael is heading west. Of course, he arranged a big send-off for himself, including calling the press. He boards the train and heads to the rear platform, so everyone can see him getting his last look at Manhattan. But none of the photographers he called have shown up. As the train pulls out of the station, he shouts out,

Where are those damn photographers? You know, it's kind of beautiful thinking about the art of someone calling photographers for themselves, you know? Like, it just never goes away. It's always existed. People still do it now. It's refreshing, you know? Yeah, tale as old as time. Well, in Los Angeles, Michael encounters Theodore Yuriyensky,

the real Russian actor who exposes him in the Los Angeles Examiner. Michael hits back with an interview in the LA Times. He says he's been misunderstood. And he deflects by claiming that he's going to walk and hitchhike back to New York. He definitely has not lost his gift for attracting attention. Michael spends the next few years crisscrossing the country and repeating his well-worn scam cycle. But then, in late 1929, the stock market crashes, and the Great Depression begins. Suddenly, even his wealthiest benefactors are feeling the pinch.

Michael's scamming isn't so funny anymore. This forces him into a dark new corner. Michael gets a job. Wow. Recession indicator much? Princes are working now? Damn. Yeah, comes for us all.

He ends up working at a detective agency where one of his clients is a wealthy man named Edward Gould. Edward wants to divorce his wife Wilma, but at this point divorces are hard to come by. So Michael's job is to make it look like Wilma is cheating on Edward. This will give him grounds to end their marriage for good. The detective agency arranges for Michael to meet Wilma in person. The two of them start going to dinner together and during one date Michael slips some so called knockout drops into her coffee. Michael brings a drugged Wilma to a nearby apartment and waits for her husband and a bunch of witnesses to

bang down the door to supposedly catch the two of them together. For the record, it doesn't seem like he actually touches her, but what he did do is bad enough. When the group barges in, Michael brings the theatrics. He bellows, Who enters the bedchamber of a Romanoff? This guy can't do anything right. Like, what the hell is this? This is the scheme? It's so difficult. He lives for drama, I guess. Yeah, he's not good at this.

Wilma is no dummy. She sues her husband and the detective agency. The lawsuit quickly digs up a lot of dirt on Michael. He tries to run from it in Los Angeles and then briefly in Reno. But his checks keep bouncing and America just isn't doing it for him the way it once was. So Michael decides to see

if he still has any friends in Europe. Friends or not, they certainly remember him. He shows up at the Ritz Bar in Paris where the manager greets him with his unpaid bill from 1922. Things don't improve from there. And after nearly a year abroad, Michael realizes that there's no place like home. So he's ready to sail back to America, and hopefully this time avoid another stay at Ellis Island.

It's April 1932, and Michael is sitting in the first-class dining room on an ocean liner sailing for New York. He boarded without a ticket and has spent at least a few nights sleeping in the dog kennels on the top deck. But that hasn't stopped him from charming his way into the most elite social circles on board. One passenger is so charmed that a few nights before the end of the voyage, they start wandering the ship looking for Michael.

They want to invite him to their cocktail party, but he's nowhere to be found. So they ask the stewards where Michael Romanoff is bunked. But the stewards can't find that name on their passenger list. And then they get suspicious. Later, as Michael leaves the dining room, the ship's officers approach him and ask him what his cabin number is. Michael declares, the whole ship is my cabin.

But the officers are not charmed. They take him into custody. So once again, Michael is sent straight to Ellis Island when the ship enters New York's harbors. He still doesn't have proof of citizenship, which means he's probably about to get deported back to France. But first, he asks permission to go to Manhattan

to pick up some clothes he has in storage. And for some reason, the immigration officials, who might have known about his first escape, agree. Oh my God, that's awesome for him. The thing is, he does have these small wins where you're like, you know, if you just try one more time. He's scrappy, I'll give him that.

They assigned Michael a guard for his trip into Manhattan, but this guard is not immune to Michael's joie de vivre because when Michael asks if they can stop by a speakeasy for one last drink, the guard agrees. Everyone at the bar is thrilled to see him, and the guard is reportedly starstruck by all of Michael's fancy friends. Michael bounces him from one speakeasy to another,

and eventually the guard gets really drunk. He actually falls asleep at one of the bars. Michael seizes this opportunity and he runs off. But, ever the gentleman, he calls Ellis Island the next morning to ask how the guard is doing, and to say that they really shouldn't blame him for the escape. You know what? I'm starting to believe this guy is royalty. Yeah, that is actually pretty regal.

Well, not long after, police officers arrest Michael as he's leaving the building where all of his clothes are stored. And he is, in fact, deported back to France, where he tries to stow away and gets caught and sent to jail. But people remain fascinated by him. In 1932, the New Yorker starts publishing a five-part series on the supposed Prince's real story. This story turns Michael

into a full-blown national celebrity, which means that the immigration commissioner is more determined than ever not to let this guy pull one over on him, again. In December of 1932, just six months after his deportation, French authorities notify America that Michael is about to be released from jail.

In response, the American Immigration Commissioner increased his security at every port in New York and New Jersey. They're not letting him back in the country. But within a few weeks, rumors start circulating that Michael has been spotted at a Midtown speakeasy. How?

How does he keep doing this? Kind of a likely place for him to be. What is going on? It's like he's in a video game and it's really like, it's insane. Well, Michael avoids his regular speakeasies, but he cannot go without his favorite tobacco. A week after his first sighting in New York, Michael pops by his shop to pick up some royal yacht, and his enemy from London is there.

Remember the guy who blew up Michael's spot during his first day in New York? Yes, I do remember him. Well, by this point, Michael's charm has finally won even this guy over. But the shopkeeper has heard from Immigration that he has to turn Michael over if he sees him. So he does, reluctantly,

which is how Michael ends up back on Ellis Island for a third time. This time, however, Michael has resources. He manages to get two lawyers on his side, along with some supporters who post his bail, which means that while the government opens an investigation into whether he's a citizen or not, Michael is free to do as he pleases.

All of these misadventures have only made Michael's star burn brighter. He gets a contract for $500 a week with the Arkayo Theater in Manhattan. This would be close to $12,000 a week now. Michael takes the stage while the Russian national anthem plays, and then he tells the story of his imperial Russian heritage. Even though at this point, everyone is very clear that he is no prince. I don't understand this. How is anyone benefiting from this? How is he able to do this when he's a known liar?

Okay, whatever, you know what? I'm just jealous at this point. Well, here's the problem. Michael's talent as an actor does not extend to the stage, and New York is still in the grip of the Depression. So Michael is ready to try Los Angeles one more time. And luckily, the city has finally figured out what to do with him. Treat him like the celebrity he is. It's a few years later, and Michael is around 50 years old,

but he hasn't slowed down one bit. In fact, he's in the middle of a raucous night out. He's got a pair of dice in one hand and a drink in the other. He's surrounded by celebrities at one of the most exclusive spots in Hollywood, the Clover Club on Sunset Boulevard. The Clover Club seems pretty typical. There's music, food, and plenty of dancing.

But it has a seedier attraction as well, illegal gambling. The Great Depression is finally on its way out, and everyone's ready to have some fun again. Michael, famously, is extremely fun, and he draws a vibrant crowd wherever he goes. The club's owners notice this and they strike up a deal. They'll reward his continued presence at the club by making sure he wins at the table.

There's something really remarkable about Michael, which is that everyone knows he's a liar. He doesn't really have that much to offer, but he's so outrageous and famous for being famous and controversial that people just kind of want him around because he's a draw, which does make him a true OG

Influencer, could you imagine if this guy had Instagram? Unstoppable unstoppable force of nature and actually it probably won't surprise you to learn that the clover clubs owners are in fact Gangsters, so Michael finally has a job that jives with his lifestyle and he's mostly staying out of trouble He stopped defaulting on loans and bouncing checks. A few nights later, he's dining at the restaurant Chazen's. According to legend, Michael is there with a large, rowdy group of friends. They're ordering everything, drinks, steaks, caviar,

more drinks, they're drunk and unruly, and the servers can't keep up with them. Fed up, one of Michael's friends turns to him and says, Mike, you're gonna open your own joint. You know, like many influencers, opening up a restaurant or some kind of gimmicky business does make sense. Also, you know, it's proximity to him,

and he is around famous people. I understand the draw. I would probably go to his restaurant and I'd probably write about it or something. Yeah. I mean, maybe Michael's just trying to slow down. You know, he is getting older and even though he's living well now, he remembers what it was like to be broke and hungry all the time. In the past few years, he's basically become the 1930s version of an influencer.

But that means he's still making a lot of money for other people. He realizes he's ready to take the next step and use his brand to get himself paid. Luckily, his lifestyle has put him in some very wealthy circles. So when he starts raising funds to open a restaurant, lots of rich guys offer to help. Studio heads, heirs, and stars like Charlie Chaplin and James Cagney. Michael gives them shares of stock in his restaurant for $50 each.

You know, it really says something about Michael when Charlie Chaplin knows you're a scammer and is like, sure, I'll invest in your restaurant. Yeah, it's kind of amazing. Michael manages to pull together about $6,000, which would be closer to $140,000 today. Then he convinces an investor friend to help him out with the rest.

Still, he has to stick to a budget. So Michael decides to set up shop in a part of town that's still mostly vacant lots, Rodeo Drive. He convinces movie studios to help him out with wallpaper and decorations. Whatever bare wall is left, he covers with portraits of himself. On opening night, Michael is dressed in his best and surrounded by famous friends. He's thought of almost everything, except filling the cash box.

Luckily, his pal, Cary Grant, is here to help. Or, more specifically, Cary's butler, who runs to the house and returns with literal boxes of cash Michael can use to make change for his guests. Michael's transitioning from inveterate scammer to legitimate business owner. It's probably the riskiest, most reckless thing he's done yet. But after a lifetime of talking his way into the most exclusive places in the world, Michael is finally the one calling the shots. Here in his own restaurant,

reality is whatever Michael wants it to be. And people will pay for the privilege of spending time with the undisputed king of the LA social scene, as long as he can keep the party going. Every big moment starts with a big dream. But what happens when that big dream turns out to be a big flop? From Wondery and Atwill Media, I'm Misha Brown and this is The Big Flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails, and blunders of

all time like Quibi. It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to get other people to do it. And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats. Like, if I'm watching the dancing and I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with the movie. Find out what happens when massive hype

turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the big flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the big flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the big flop early and ad free on Wondery Plus. Get started with your free trial at Wondery dot com slash plus. Hi, everyone. It's Nicole Wallace from MSNBC. Listen to my new podcast called The Best People. I get to speak to some of the smartest, funniest, and wisest people I have ever encountered.

People like Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow, Doc Rivers, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, and Sarah Jessica Parker. They'll often say, hey Carrie, you know, they'll call me Carrie and that's alright too. The Best People with Nicole Wallace. New episodes drop Mondays. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. A few months into running his restaurant Romanoff's, Michael has more success than he's ever dreamed of. The restaurant is packed with A-listers every night of the week. In fact, there are so many stars trying to eat at Romanoff's that Michael's biggest

problem is where to put them all. The space has a large back room and a beautiful patio. But the real draw are the five booths at the front of the restaurant. They're in plain view of everyone who walks in, so they've become the place to see and be seen in Hollywood. And Michael decides who gets those coveted spots every night. Michael is very aware of his influence. He starts writing a gossip column called Romanoff's Roundup and includes it with the menu.

Michael's at the restaurant almost every day, eating lunch with his English Bulldogs, Confucius and Socrates. Here, Sarah, take a look at this photo of Michael in his element. every day, eating lunch with his English Bulldogs, Confucius and Socrates. Here, Sarah, take a look at this photo of Michael in his element. Wow. This dog's really cute. Yeah, I mean, it's like a pretty funny photo of him

with these other guys. They're all wearing suits at a table, and they're staring at this confused-looking dog who looks like he's gonna say something important. He does look like a Confucius. Well, Michael knows that a truly special spot has exclusivity, and at least the appearance who looks like he's gonna say something important. He does look like a Confucius. Well, Michael knows that a truly special spot has exclusivity and at least the appearance of elegance.

So Romanoff's requires that all men wear ties to dinner. And this rule applies to everyone, even men as powerful as Howard Hughes. When he tries to come to dinner bare-necked, Michael kicks him out. Humphrey Bogart also hates the tie rule. Michael is not willing to break the rules for Bogie, but he is one of Michael's best friends.

So Michael bends a little and says Bogie can substitute with a cravat. That kind of pisses me off. Like, I understand he has rules for his restaurant because he's trying to make it fancy, but it's like you got away with so much. You're not even really fancy. You literally are pretending to be a prince. So let it go. Sorry Howard Hughes wasn't wearing a tie. That's what you're going to be a stitler for. It might seem fake fancy, but having all of these celebrities

packed into one spot makes Rodeo Drive the place to be. Other businesses start moving in so that Michael's wealthy clientele will stop by before or after their meals. So Romanoff's basically creates Rodeo Drive. Michael has finally achieved his life's dream, to perpetually be at the center of the best party in the world. He's made the unlikely transition from fraud prince to kingmaker, and he's about to pull off something even rarer, managing to stay on top.

By 1950, Romanoff's has been the hottest restaurant in Hollywood for a decade. Michael is tired of renting, so he decides to move to a new location. And this time, he's buying. Now, the restaurant is reported to be raking in 25 grand a month. That's more than $300,000 today. But Michael isn't opposed to calling in favors, so he wires Alfred Vanderbilt, a friend from his earlier Hollywood days, to ask for $25,000.

Alfred is in Hawaii when he gets the request, but he sends a check out on a plane the next morning. It comes with a note that says, "'This is the least I can do for my emperor. What the hell? I mean this is 1950 at this point. You think by now something would have run out. The well does not dry when it comes to Michael. They really like him. And luckily at this point, Michael has someone helping him manage all this cash.

A few years ago, he hired a woman named Gloria to do his bookkeeping. She's a brunette beauty with a sharp mind and she runs a tight ship. She's also 34 years younger than Michael, but they fall in love anyway and get married in Las Vegas on the 4th of July in 1948. This time around, Michael can afford to do things his way. He works with an architect

to design a space that's just as extra as he is. Marble steps lead up to the entrance, and inside, it's all booths, so every seat is the best seat in the house. The new Romanoff's is just as big of a hit as the old one was. Famous diners include Jack Benny, Hedda Hopper, Sam Goldwyn, Cole Porter, and J. Edgar Hoover. It's a funny place for the founder of the FBI to be hanging out, given that there are often organized crime guys in the room. Hoover will sometimes find himself dining at the same time as regulars like Bugsy Siegel and Frank Sinatra. But at Romanoff's, everyone keeps the peace. Would you say that at the Romanoff's, everyone keeps the peace.

Would you say that at the Romanoff's, when you're here, your family, perhaps? Do you think that's something that they would say? I don't legally think I can say that, but I would like to say it. Well, those political connections help Michael in other ways, too. In the late 50s, Hoover helps facilitate an order of Congress to declare Michael a legal citizen of the U.S. At this point, Michael is a husband, a citizen, and a bona fide success. The only question left is, how long can he keep these good times rolling? It's January 1957, and for once, Michael isn't in the mood to be charming. He's standing in the back of the All Saints Episcopal Church

in Beverly Hills. Next to him is a coffin that holds the body of one of his closest friends, Humphrey Bogart. Bogie had been a Romanoff's regular for years. Once the new location opened, he and his wife, Lauren McCall, ate lunch at the same table almost every day. They were regularly joined by famous friends, including Judy Garland, Swifty Lazar, and Frank Sinatra.

A few years ago, Lauren gave their little group a name in one of Romanoff's small private rooms. She dubbed them the Rat Pack. I had no idea how close he would be and how close he would remain to truly some of the most famous Hollywood stars of all time. And it's almost like his myth-making became real, like it stopped mattering, whether it was true or not,

because he was so relentless, he made it real. Yeah, he really did. Bogey got sick with throat cancer last year. Michael would send him meals twice a day during his hospital stays, and the food must have lifted his spirits, but it couldn't cure him. And now, Michael is serving as a pallbearer at his friend's funeral. his hospital stays, and the food must have lifted his spirits, but it couldn't cure him.

And now, Michael is serving as a pallbearer at his friend's funeral. Once the service is done, everyone heads back to the Bogarts' home. Naturally, Romanoff's is catering the wake. After Bogie's death, everything changes. Sinatra becomes the unofficial head of the Rat Pack. He brings in new members, guys like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. This version of the Rat Pack doesn't hang out in LA as much as the original one did.

Instead, they're always traveling to Vegas, Paris, London, and when they invite Michael to join them, he goes. But without Michael at the restaurant, celebrities stop coming, and then the crowd stop coming to try to see the celebrities. So in the early 60s, after nearly 20 years as a bustling hotspot, business finally starts to slacken.

Romanoff's closes in 1962. Wow, it is still to me quite shocking that he was basically a member of the Rat Pack and was like traveling around with them and stuff. But also, this is so clear of what his truest and deepest motivation is, which isn't to like have a successful restaurant or business or to be taking care of himself. It's like, how do I get near people who are famous? But it's like, believe in yourself. You are famous at this point.

Well, Michael's time with Sinatra is more than just a distraction. After Romanoff's closes, Michael gets a job working for a studio, but his wife later tells Vanity Fair that, quote, his real job was to keep Sinatra in line. In 1971, Michael is out shopping when he has a heart attack. He goes to the hospital, where he reportedly sends everyone out of the room except his wife. He tells her, not you, my darling. everyone out of the room except his wife. He tells her, not you, my darling.

And then he dies, a cinematic ending to a cinematic life. So Sarah, did this one make you mad? You know, once I let go of it making me mad, I was along for the ride because I was waiting for him to turn his scam on innocent people, like create a Ponzi scheme, but truly his scam was trying to be famous no matter what. And yeah, he owed people some money, but like he wasn't involved in anything crazy elaborate. He literally just made himself as famous as he could through a really insane lie.

It is crazy to me also just the timeline of it, because if you're thinking of the Romanovs, in my mind, it feels so ancient, an ancient dynasty. And then by the end of it, Frank Sinatra's involved. Like, you know, it's so crazy how he was able to span this for so many decades and not really change the heart of his story also. It's just an incredibly frustrating story about people realizing someone is a fraud. Everybody is saying the emperor doesn't have any clothes,

and all these people are like, cool, I like him naked. Like, nobody has a problem with the fact that he's full of shit. They're like tickled by it. It's such an insane case because so many people are able to maintain being close to famous people, but it kind of falls apart because they either demand too much or their bad personality gets in the way. But I feel like he was able to maintain this balance. Every part of the story I was like, oh, this is when it's going to totally fall apart.

And then it doesn't, you know? It's like, is he maybe the perfect scammer? Yeah, this one hits like a lot of the scam influencers' bingo. Like, he's an orphan, he runs away a lot. He is like one of the first influencers, kind of, because he's created all this cachet and people are obsessed with him. Yes, it really, really does. It's really moving in this odd way. It's like, it's pretty victimless, ultimately.

Yeah. Why do you think rich people love being scammed? I think they don't love being scammed. I think it's just in some ways easy to scam people who are really affluent or famous or around the same kind of person all the time, because I think we've said this before, but all famous people want is to feel normal,

or like that they can kick it with a different type of person. I think it feeds into an insecurity they have. I think he was very successful because he was able to be kept around because he was fun. And also clearly savvy in some way, where he was able to help establish Rodeo Drive as like a rich person destination and it remains so till this day.

Do you feel like you learned any lessons? I feel like today was a great informative package on how to persevere when people point out that you're full of shit. Yeah I think it's just like never back down. I think he doubled down at every turn and again made some stupid moves that ultimately were fine but didn't escalate the scam into being something bigger than it was. He got what he wanted, he found a way to get to the next level of that and he died happy. God we got played. He really figured it out. He figured it out and tell me right now who has figured it out since? Not me. He's basically Kim Kardashian before Kim Kardashian.

I know, and I think he got less grief than even her. Yes. Shout out, Prince Michael. Good for you, man. Perfect scam. 10 out of 10. ["Wendry Plus Theme"] Loving scam influencers, get exclusive episodes

and early access to new ones all ad free on Wondry Plus. Join now in the Wondry app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Before you go, help us out by taking a quick survey at Wondry.com slash survey. This is Michael Romanoff, the high prince of Hollywood. I'm Sachi Cole. And I'm Sarah Haggye. If you have a tip for us on a story that you think we should cover, please email us at scamfluencers at wondery.com.

We use many sources in our research. A few that were particularly helpful were The Education of a Prince by Alva Johnston for The New Yorker and Romanov, Prince of the Rogues by Jane Pesa. Zane Romanov wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Saatchachi Cole, and Sarah Hackie. Eric Thurm is our story editor. Fact checking by Meredith Clark. Sound design by James Morgan.

Additional audio assistance provided by Augustine Lim. Our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Freeze On Sync. Our managing producer is Desi Blaylock. Our senior managing producer is Callum Pluse. Janine Cornelo and Stephanie Jens are our development producers. Our associate producer is Charlotte Miller. Our producer is Callum Pluse. Janine Cornelow and Stephanie Jens are our development producers. Our associate producer is Charlotte Miller.

Our producer is Julie McGruder. Our senior producers are Sarah Enney and Ginny Bloom. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louie, and Erin O'Flaherty. For Wondery. 20 years ago, on July 7th, 2005, the 7-7 bombings rocked London. My first memory was of flying through the air. The use of suicide as a means of attack, that was something which we never saw. I'm Thomas Small, the co-host of Conflicted, a podcast about radical Islam. In this special documentary series, we'll tell you the story of 7-7, as you've never heard it before, from the inside.

And to tell that story, I've got some help from my old friend and the co-host of Conflicted, ex-Al-Qaeda terrorist turned MI6 spy, Amon Dean. I actually encountered three of the perpetrators of 7.7 in late 2002. Binge all episodes of 7.7 The Inside Story exclusively and ad-free right now on Wondry+. Start your free trial of Wondry+, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or in the Wondry app.