Having played fast and loose to put themselves in the box seat to score a windfall $50 million profit from the Beaconsfield gold mine Macquarie Bank and its fellow travellers seemingly pushed the operational envelope just a little too hard and watched the profits collapse on top of Todd Russell and Brant Webb. The embarrassing spotlight on these controversial dealings, which saw the bank buy more than $50 million in debt for just $300,000, sparked even the Millionaire Factory to walk away with nothing but a modest gain and a soiled reputation. Meanwhile, Todd and Brant got rich by selling their story to Channel Eddie and anyone else who’d listen.

2005 winner: Multiplex for its ongoing troubles with London’s Wembley Stadium.