Top 10 Dirty Deals and Backstabs on Billions
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Dirty Deals and Backstabs on "Billions". For this list, we’ll be looking at the most shocking power plays or outright betrayals on Showtime's epic financial drama. With these moments showing that there's no predicting how this series will fluctuate, be warned of major spoilers ahead. What are your favorite plot and character twists on "Billions"? Take your tip to the floor… or comments.
#10: Stopping the Olympics
"The Big Ugly"
Attorney General Chuck Rhoades never trusted Mike Prince's big plans to deliver the 2028 Olympic Games to New York City. After failing to find evidence of misconduct with the Olympic Committee, Chuck assembled the governors of neighboring states to discuss antitrust lawsuits. His ulterior motive was a photo op to trick Prince's investors into thinking that a costly tax bill might be in the works. This coerced them into turning on Prince with false allegations of bribery, killing the Olympics bid. This was devastating to Prince, not to mention the people of New York. Chuck had finally toppled all ethics in his fanatical crusade against even the noblest of billionaires. Not so noble after all, Prince responded by coming after Chuck's political career.
#9: Kate Flips
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“Burn Rate”
Kate Sacker was one of Chuck's most loyal colleagues, despite his general lack of respect for loyalty. She promptly informs him when Mike Prince comes to her with a job offer. Chuck not only orders her to string Prince along, but deploys Ira Schirmer as her alternative and his potential mole in Prince Capital. In the end, Kate realizes that her boss will never completely give her or her political ambitions time of day. When Prince sweetens his offer by promising to fund Kate’s eventual run for Congress, she comes on as his company’s lead counsel. It may be one of the most shocking betrayals Chuck has faced, but that’s what he gets for always making pawns of those closest to him.
#8: Outbound Rhoades
“The Conversation”
Chuck Rhoades's first major blow to Bobby Axelrod came with major blowback. After seeking out BDSM relations elsewhere and behind Wendy’s back, Chuck sneaks onto his wife's laptop to read her Axe Capital session notes. Evidence of bribery finally allows him to escalate his investigation. Wendy eventually learns the truth and kicks Chuck out of the house, but not without recording his confession to illegal evidence-gathering. Chuck's betrayal of his marriage and ethics only set his crusade back. Wendy pulls the ultimate power move when she promptly quits Axe Cap after revealing the recording, receiving $5 million… and then deleting the recording. As season 1 closes with Axe and Chuck's iconic confrontation, it's clear that nothing is off-limits in their war.
#7: Never Give Back the Money
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“A Proper Sendoff”
Investing in the children of colleagues who died on 9/11 was Bobby Axelrod's first ruse of honor. That falls apart with the arrival of John Rice, the son of Axe's mentor and the manager of John Rice Capital. He repays his own mentor's initial investment, but the scandalized Axe suspects that John is just distancing himself. What appears to be a friendly fishing trip is just a way to get John off the radar, so he can't defend himself against a defamatory article and Axe Cap poaching his clients. Axe was so offended by John cashing him out that he destroyed a businessman he helped build. All Axe has to say for himself is, "Never give back the money, kid."
#6: Sandicot
“Indian Four”
Desperate for good PR, Bobby Axelrod purchases all debt in the distressed town of Sandicot. Naturally, he's mostly interested in investing in casino plans. But when the gaming license is pulled after a single $5 million land purchase, Sandicot finds itself in even deeper debt. Axe eventually learns that Charles Rhoades Sr., as a favor to his son, called in his own favor to the powerful Black Jack Foley. He then publicly condemns Chuck for destroying a whole town just to get to him. Chuck didn’t sanction his father's scheme, but he heavy-heartedly takes the win. Axe Cap manipulating Sandicot may be on-brand. But the Rhoadeses' even dirtier dealings enlighten Axe and Chuck to just how amoral their rivalry has to be.
#5: Smoke & Mirrors
“Victory Smoke”
With the prospect of federal marijuana legalization, Bobby Axelrod and Mike Prince have a new market to compete over. Chuck Rhoades also has a new angle. To make matters more complicated, the vindictive Taylor Mason convinces Axe's old enemy, Lawrence Boyd, to join the feud over Fine Young Cannabis. Axe Bank ultimately lands the account, but the battle dragged on so long that they didn't have time to scrutinize the deal. It turns out that some of FYC's inventory was purchased through the black market. This makes Axe Bank liable for money laundering. Chuck, Prince and Taylor knew this from the beginning, and put aside their differences to conspire against their mutual enemy. Axe has finally run out of plays.
#4: Launching Mase Cap
“Elmsley Count”
Axe Capital needs a win at a Citi Field capital event. The boss believes Taylor Mason can land an investment from Spartan Ives, not realizing just how disillusioned his protegé has become with the company. Taylor runs late to Citi Field after persuading the mogul Grigor Andolov to defer his investment in Axe Cap to the new Taylor Mason Capital. They later negotiate more than half of the $6 billion promised by Spartan Ives. The next day, Axe learns that he's out a fortune, and that his star risk manager is now a competitor. Mase Cap pledges to be a uniquely ethical hedge fund after one of "Billions"'s biggest betrayals. But its fate may already be sealed with a most powerful enemy.
#3: Eliminating Mase Cap
“Extreme Sandbox”
Bobby Axelrod has been known to destroy people and relationships for the pettiest reasons - never mind when he can get something out of it. When his girlfriend, Rebecca Cantu, works with Taylor Mason Capital, Axe convinces his fellow board members to liquidate the department store she'd been working on. He makes a cool profit, but destroys Rebecca's dream and their relationship. At least he's self-aware enough to acknowledge that a brutal breakup was inevitable. This way, he strikes a catastrophic enough blow to Mase Cap to set Taylor up with an illegal deal, leading to Chuck arresting them. Taylor returns to Axe Cap in defeat, but as Chuck's mole.
#2: Running Away Money
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“No Direction Home”
Chuck seems to have finally beaten Bobby Axelrod after he and Mike Prince trick him into laundering money for a narcotics operation. When Axe is due to be formally arrested, however, he doesn’t show up. It’s revealed that Prince had approached him with an offer to take over Axe Bank for the price of $2 billion. Yes, that’s almost chump change for the company even with its disgrace. But it’s enough of what Prince calls “running away money” for Axe to go on the run to Switzerland. Chuck’s ultimate mission has been thwarted by his own co-conspirator. Michael Prince Capital has become his new white whale, and another problem for Axe to eliminate when he returns in the final season.
#1: The Ice Juice Conspiracies
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“Golden Frog Time”
The Rhoadeses make a wise investment in Ice Juice, a beverage company founded by Chuck’s closest friend Ira Schirmer. When word of its impending IPO launch illegally reaches Axe, he has revenge in sight. He shorts the stock and circulates a bacteria that confederates dose their Ice Juice with, making everyone sick. The company is dead on arrival. Chuck also takes a big financial hit, but it was all according to plan. He, in fact, orchestrated the leak to Axe and commissioned feds to tail him. The ensuing investigation finally gets Axe in legal hot water. Still, it took Chuck betraying his friend and father. The hatchet was eventually buried, but the Ice Juice conspiracies established the complete moral downfalls of both Axe and Chuck.
