Say what you will about Bernard von NotHaus, the man has led his federal probation officers to some beautiful places. First, there was the waterfront penthouse in Miami Beach. Then there was the penthouse at the Marco Polo condominium in Honolulu. Today, he occupies a multimillion-dollar, 40-acre estate in Malibu owned by a longtime friend. Make no mistake, though: NotHaus is broke.

Ever since the FBI raided the Evansville office of his alternative currency, the Liberty Dollar, in 2007 – seizing his assets and arresting him for counterfeiting – the 68-year-old has been living on Social Security and the kindness of wealthy acquaintances.