大家好，今天犀哥这篇财经评论，主要聊一个华尔街传奇人物的故事：约翰・保尔森。 连特朗普都想将他收入麾下 这职位啥概念？相当于美国经济领域的"一把手"，手握调控大权，多少人挤破头都想要，但保尔森想都没想就拒了，理由是自己"难堪重任"，还顺带吐槽了 特朗普的对华关税战，说这纯属"伤敌八百、自损一千"的糊涂账。 换作一般人，碰到这种一步登天的机会，早就乐开花了，但保尔森不这么想这正是他能成大事的关键，不被名利牵着鼻子走。 金融圈里太多人追名逐利，最后栽在权力和欲望里，但保尔森心里知道自己真正擅长的是投资，不是搞政治，一旦进了权力的圈子，就很难保持客观冷静的 判断，而这恰恰是投资的生命线。 拒绝当官后，保尔森也没闲着，转头就扎进了黄金市场，从2023年开始，他就疯狂买入金矿公司的股票，跟当初做空房地产时一样果断。 这人可是个狠角色，在2008年次贷危机里赚得盆满钵满，特朗普都想请他当财政部长，结果人家直接拒绝，现在又一门心思押注黄金，说2028年金价能涨到 5000美元一盎司，他能预知金融吗？ 2025年4月底，他更是放出狠话，说2028年黄金价格能冲到5000美元每盎司，很多人觉得他疯了，但了解他的人都知道，这背后 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rapid collapse of American International Group (AIG), once considered one of the safest companies globally, highlighting its critical role in the financial system and the challenges faced by the Federal Reserve in deciding whether to rescue it during the 2008 financial crisis [1][3][5]. Group 1: AIG's Historical Context - AIG was recognized as the largest insurance company in the U.S., with total assets of $1.2 trillion, surpassing 60% of China's foreign exchange reserves at the time [1]. - Before the crisis, AIG was a symbol of financial stability, even sponsoring Manchester United during its peak [1]. Group 2: The Crisis Unfolds - The crisis began on September 15, 2008, when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, marking the start of the financial tsunami, with AIG's risks brewing beneath the surface [3]. - On the same day, AIG's stock plummeted by 60%, leading to a liquidity crisis and a request for a $30 billion emergency loan from the New York Federal Reserve [3][5]. Group 3: AIG's Systemic Importance - AIG employed 115,000 people and served as a guarantor for 401K social security plans, affecting the pensions of over 106 million Americans [5]. - The potential bankruptcy of AIG posed a catastrophic threat to the entire financial system due to its extensive interconnections with global financial institutions, with risk exposure nearing $3 trillion [5]. Group 4: Management Decisions and Failures - AIG's management expanded into unfamiliar derivative markets through its financial products subsidiary, AIGFP, which led to significant losses during the subprime mortgage crisis [6][9]. - The company had underwritten over 80 million life insurance policies with a face value of $1.9 trillion, but mismanagement and overconfidence in risk led to its downfall [7][9]. Group 5: Government Response - Timothy Geithner, then President of the New York Federal Reserve, played a crucial role in coordinating the rescue efforts for AIG, advocating for a government bailout due to its systemic importance [5][9]. - After assessing the situation, Geithner proposed a loan of $85 billion to AIG, which was initially met with skepticism but ultimately agreed upon by key government officials [9].