Nine days after Bob Lee was found stabbed in San Francisco, police arrested Nima Momeni for his murder. Desperate to squash the ‘Doom Loop’ narrative, San Francisco officials insisted that Bob Lee was killed by someone he knew, a fellow tech executive. But the Cash App founder’s friends and family had never heard of Momeni. Reporter Shawn Wen tells the story of Momeni’s teen years in the East Bay, his minor brushes with the law, and the events that put him on a collision course with Lee. 

Nine days after Bob Lee was found stabbed in San Francisco, police arrested Nima Momeni for his murder. Desperate to squash the &lsquo;Doom Loop&rsquo; narrative, San Francisco officials insisted that Bob Lee was killed by someone he knew, a fellow tech executive. But the Cash App founder&rsquo;s friends and family had never heard of Momeni. Reporter Shawn Wen tells the story of Momeni&rsquo;s teen years in the East Bay, his minor brushes with the law, and the events that put him on a collision course with Lee.&nbsp;

Foundering is an award-winning, serialized podcast from the journalists at Bloomberg Technology. Each season, Foundering brings you inside a different high-stakes drama from the technology industry, where its companies are wielding unprecedented capital and power.

Foundering

Bob Lee Part 2: The Brother Did It

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6d1145ac-c6f3-4705-a778-b42d0163614a/transcript

Nima Momeni's trial for murdering Bob Lee began in October 2024. Lee's killing, no longer a stand-in for random street crime, no longer fit neatly into the political zeitgeist. Instead, the tabloids latched onto the story for its salacious mix of drugs, violence and sex. Reporter Shawn Wen brings listeners inside the made-for-TV murder trial, which also served as a referendum on San Francisco. 

Nima Momeni's trial for murdering Bob Lee began in October 2024. Lee's killing, no longer a stand-in for random street crime, no longer fit neatly into the political zeitgeist. Instead, the tabloids latched onto the story for its salacious mix of drugs, violence and sex. Reporter Shawn Wen brings listeners inside the made-for-TV murder trial, which also served as a referendum on San Francisco.&nbsp;

Bob Lee Part 4: The Made-for-TV Murder Trial

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/655e0963-da89-41f8-ae76-b43b01388b86/transcript

Weeks after his death, Bob Lee’s toxicology report was released, indicating that he had alcohol, cocaine, and ketamine in his system. While his killing no longer fit neatly with the San Francisco Doom Loop narrative, a new story emerged that Lee traveled through an underground party scene known as “the Lifestyle.” Lee was twisted into a symbol for a second time, now representing the secret world of the wealthy tech elite. In conversation with Lee’s friends and family, reporter Shawn Wen tells the tale of the man they knew.

Weeks after his death, Bob Lee&rsquo;s toxicology report was released, indicating that he had alcohol, cocaine, and ketamine in his system. While his killing no longer fit neatly with the San Francisco Doom Loop narrative, a new story emerged that Lee traveled through an underground party scene known as &ldquo;the Lifestyle.&rdquo; Lee was twisted into a symbol for a second time, now representing the secret world of the wealthy tech elite. In conversation with Lee&rsquo;s friends and family, reporter Shawn Wen tells the tale of the man they knew.

Bob Lee Part 3: The Brilliant Programmer and a Lot of Wild Living

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7d5fd4a0-22fa-47fb-a7f1-b43401371c20/transcript

Three years ago, Bob Lee, a tech executive famous for creating Cash App, was found stabbed in San Francisco. His killing set off a wave of online fury. Reporter Shawn Wen takes us back to the turbulent days before his killer was arrested, when misinformation and rumors ran rampant. Several tech industry leaders decried violent crime in San Francisco, including David Sacks, who “bet dollars to dimes” that Lee was stabbed by “a psychotic homeless person,” and Elon Musk, who called the city “horrific.” 

Three years ago, Bob Lee, a tech executive famous for creating Cash App, was found stabbed in San Francisco. His killing set off a wave of online fury. Reporter Shawn Wen takes us back to the turbulent days before his killer was arrested, when misinformation and rumors ran rampant. Several tech industry leaders decried violent crime in San Francisco, including David Sacks, who &ldquo;bet dollars to dimes&rdquo; that Lee was stabbed by &ldquo;a psychotic homeless person,&rdquo; and Elon Musk, who called the city &ldquo;horrific.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Bob Lee Part 1: San Francisco Has Blood On Its Hands

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8ffe7d5c-c9db-4a46-8c41-b42d01616295/transcript

Bob Lee Part 2: The Brother Did It

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