To those who believe his story, Paul is the crown prince of Romania, a direct descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Tsar Alexander II of Russia. To those who don’t, he’s Paul Lambrino: a fantasist claiming heirship to a non-existent throne. This is the story of Paul’s fight to win a $1bn inheritance. It features private spy agencies, missing Caravaggios, and a billionaire with an eye for a deal.

This piece, written by the FT’s Miles Johnson, is the first in our series, ‘The Great Escape’, featuring our most carefully crafted and deeply engrossing tales. It was originally printed in FT Weekend.

To read more stories like this and to save 40% on a standard digital subscription to the Financial Times, go to: ft.com/princeoffer.

Contributors: Miles Johnson, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Laura Clarke, Cheryl Brumley, Matt Vella

To those who believe his story, Paul is the crown prince of Romania, a direct descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Tsar Alexander II of Russia. To those who don&rsquo;t, he&rsquo;s Paul Lambrino: a fantasist claiming heirship to a non-existent throne. This is the story of Paul&rsquo;s fight to win a $1bn inheritance. It features private spy agencies, missing Caravaggios, and a billionaire with an eye for a deal.
This piece, written by the FT&rsquo;s Miles Johnson, is the first in our series, &lsquo;The Great Escape&rsquo;, featuring our most carefully crafted and deeply engrossing tales.&nbsp;It was <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/51f88322-c9e2-4045-8ea8-862288fb1d6f" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://subs.ft.com/sourceFT?segmentID%3D40d24e8a-c965-0b9d-678d-61453732f775&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737580735352000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0t4Pcfq7Mirji7FccnPUNz">originally printed</a> in FT Weekend.
To read more stories like this and to save 40% on a standard digital subscription to the Financial Times, go to: <a href="http://ft.com/princeoffer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ft.com/princeoffer&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737580735352000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2JEntBWVNBZH9TFjs2nYRh">ft.com/princeoffer</a>.
Contributors:&nbsp;Miles Johnson, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Laura Clarke, Cheryl Brumley, Matt Vella

Hot Money is back. In this series, Financial Times reporter Miles Johnson investigates a mysterious murder in a small town that leads to a web of drugs, money laundering and state-sponsored assassinations stretching from Dublin to Dubai. At the centre is a cocaine super cartel that is revolutionising the global drugs market. This eight-part investigative podcast, published twice-weekly, probes the links between criminals and legitimate businesses, and between governments and gangsters.

Hot Money is back. In this series, Financial Times reporter Miles Johnson investigates a mysterious murder in a small town that leads to a web of drugs, money laundering and state-sponsored assassinations stretching from Dublin to Dubai. At the centre is a cocaine super cartel that is revolutionising the global drugs market. This eight-part investigative podcast, published twice-weekly, probes the links between criminals and legitimate businesses, and between governments and gangsters.

Hot Money: The New Narcos

FT long read: The Fugitive Prince

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cb937638-40da-4db9-bdfd-b268012e9fc9/transcript

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