Don Lapre, the self-proclaimed “King of Infomercials,” was found dead after an apparent suicide in his Arizona jail cell on Sunday, People reports. Lapre, 47, was known for his late-night self-help advertisements, which promised viewers that they could make millions as easily as he had. These advertisements were parodied by David Spade on Saturday Night Live.
Lapre was days away from standing trial in a $52 million fraud case involving his Internet-based company, “The Greatest Vitamin in the World.” Lapre’s indictment claims that he tricked at least 220,000 people out of millions of dollars from 2004 to 2007, using a pyramid scheme that sold vitamins that did not produce the heath benefits he claimed. The company was shut down in 2007 after multiple complaints, and Lapre was charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and promotional laundering. If convicted, he would have faced between $250,000 and $500,000 per count and five to 25 years in federal prison.
lol
So you guys are saying that these stupid vitamins I bought from this guy are no good?
He made MILLIONS living in that ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT.
I guess Lapre’s next tiny classified ad will appear on the obituary page.
I am a nurses,young and beautiful.and now I am
seeking a good man who can give me real love , so i got a username Anna2002 on
——ŔichFriends.Őrg- —– ..it is the largest and best club for wealthy people and their admirers to chat online. …you don’t have to be rich there ,but you can meet one ,maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends
……..Dat deya dude shuda been done did dat.
Burn in hell man. Burn in hell.
Did you buy some of his scamwares? ha ha ha
He should have been done done dat
Dat deya dude shuda been done did dat.
Saved us the money of taking him to trial and locking him up. Thanks for doing the right thing for once, dude…
… OR thanks to whichever convict offed him and elaborately staged his suicide…. OR I’ve been watching “The Wire” DVDs too much…
What a total wimp
But wait there’s more!!!!
Order now and get Don Lapre’s complete system ” how to cheat people and make millions” for just $19.99. Hurry this offer won’t last!!
“Hurry this offer won’t last!!”. You should’ve put “Hurry ’cause Don won’t last!”…just sayin’.
And if you call in the next 15 minutes, Don will show you his effective method for avoiding prosecution! It worked for him — and it can work for you!
you all are some sick, sick people – a human life has been lost, and to those rejoicing and making jokes about it, I say step away from the computer, your self-absorbed, cynical lives, and go sit on a mountain for a few days and re-evaluate all you think you know, you sad *ucks.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. A million times, thank you.
Way to be zen.
A human life was lost when Hitler offed himself, and not too many people got upset about it. This guy ruined thousands of people’s lives — I have no tears for him. Once you step outside of your own humanity — you’re out.
Was he a bastard who chased the dollar YES. Did he murder millions of people NO!
Big big difference sweetie.
I won’t cry any tears for a sleazy thief like Don Lapre, but let’s lose the Hitler analogies. I’ve heard too many of them this week — and it’s only Tuesday.
@Tony. Awesome comment. Thank you.
Call it karma……..call it justice……call it whatever you want. I just sat on a mountain and meditated over it, and I still came to the conclusion that it is probably the most positive development that I have run across in a long time. Thanks for the advice Blue Bear.
No, these are just the childish idiots that all got burned by being stupid enough to think his miracle pills would make their penises 15 inches longer. Bawahahahhahahahahah!!!
Someone who types “Bawahahahhahahahahah!!!” at the end of a comment has no business calling anyone else a childish idiot…unless you’re expressing the “it takes one to know one” theory.
One down. Now where’s Tony Robins and Carlton Sheets?
Or Lloyd Blankfein (doing the Lord’s work. . .)
We are talking about a human being here, people. The comments sections of most news articles makes me weep for humanity. If it weren’t for people like blue bear adding some rationality and compassion to the discussion every now and again I would go into deep hiding.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the most vicious predators on the planet are human beings. Human beings aren’t “heavenly creatures” by birth. You can bemoan the loss of this remorseless crook, but the rest of humanity is far better off without him.
Yes we noticed the heartless comments by yourself and fellow jerks.
Point of order: by all accounts, this life was not ‘lost’. He killed himself because he defrauded thousands and decided to end his life rather than go to prison. He wasn’t killed in an accident, murdered, or lost a battle with a disease. He HUNG himself in a cell. His choice. He is the person who placed no value on his own life. I agree that many of the comments are crass and unnecessary, but this man will receive very little of my sympathy.
Ever notice that anyone that is into “nutrition, vitamins, or supplements” if they get too big, the are usually charged with some false claims. Look back on any small company that grew big and started taking away money from big pharmaceutical companies. They are in bed with our government, start taking away some of their market share, they will get you.
This may have something to do with the fact that an awful lot of ‘supplement’ companies rely on false claims to sell their products. You’ll see companies spending tens of thousands of dollars to market their products using unscientific evidence and then claiming that they cannot afford to do the scientific studies that would determine whether or not their products actually work – sometimes while the founder is simultaneously telling millions of people that they can make themselves filthy rich by selling said product.
@ blue bear, Jason: Define ‘human’.
Was it worth it? Was it worth being a sociopath and deceiving people to trick them to get at their money and live a short life? Was it worth making up stupid claims and then not take responsibility for your own words? Then, you are unable to cope when you are exposed and the truth finally catches up with you. You are a predator and deserve the consequences of the miserable existence you created for yourself. Sir, you wasted your life.
@TomTom: Well said.
I bought an internet money-making package back in the 90s. I still have it though I never have used it. It made logical sense to me. I don’t blame Don for anything. Those people who lost $$ didn’t have to order his offerings. They made their own decision without researching first. Don was just offering his services. He who is without sin can cast the 1st stone at this poor guy.
Awww, too bad you didn’t use it. It really works!
Rod and Todd Flanders just nailed him with rocks.
Clive you are right. I feel sorry for the guy. They should have had a better suicide watch on him in jail. Makes you wonder how they are running jails.
very american!
What goes around, comes around. Not long ago, Billy Mays, the OxiClean guy that screamed his commercials, died. He drove me crazy with his screaming, and from what was written, he had become quite conceited and demanding of all around him. But I am sorry he died. The guy in this article, Don Lapre, “King of the Infomercials” was a self admitted con man. In other words a self proclaimed liar and a thief. He could no longer live with his conscience, it appears. If you are a ripoff artist, be prepared to pay the price which sooner or later will likely be forfeiting your life. May God have mercy on his soul.
I don’t think it was that he “could no longer live with his conscience.” What he couldn’t live with was the fact that he knew he was going to prison and couldn’t live with that fact.