Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

The Art Thief Who Fell in Love With His Biggest Score Hear the tale of Adam Worth, a man who was so criminally good at stealing stuff that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used him as the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes's arch-nemesis Dr. Moriarity.

By Dan Bova

Heritage Images | Getty Images
The stolen Duchess of Devonshire portrait.

Adam Worth was the Victorian Era's most infamous thief. He was so sneaky, so devious and so damn good at his job that he became author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's inspiration for Dr. Moriarity, arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes.

Worth's exploits earned him the nickname "The Napoleon of Crime," a nod to his ceaseless drive to steal anything that wasn't nailed to the floor. (And even if it was, he'd steal it anyway.) Worth and an array of ne'er-do-wells were as innovative as they were crooked, tunneling their way into bank vaults from adjacent building basements, setting up shape-shifting illegal gambling dens and slipping into new countries and identities when things got too hot.

Subscribe to Dirty Money on Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

Worth was pursued across multiple continents by the Pinkerton detective agency (which would one day become the Secret Service) and he cemented his status as one of the greatest thieves in history when he stole the incredibly famous portrait of Georgiana Cavendish, The Duchess of Devonshire, right off the wall of a London gallery.

Worth held onto the pilfered portrait for years, chauffeuring it around the world in the false bottom of a luggage trunk. Some say he was waiting for the right moment to sell it, others believe he fell in love with the Duchess's beguiling image and didn't want to let go.

So what became of the art thief and his prized score? Listen to the episode (embedded above) and please leave our little show a big fat five-star rating and a review. Your comments might be featured in a future episode.

Thanks as always for listening!

About Dirty Money

Dirty Money is a new podcast series from Entrepreneur Media telling the tales of legendary scammers, con artists, and barely-legal lowlifes who stop at nothing to bilk their marks of millions. Hosted by Entrepreneur editors Dan Bova and Jon Small, the podcast takes a deep dive into the deviants behind the deeds.

Related: The Fake Heiress Who Scammed One of the Richest Men in America
Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Health & Wellness

I'm a CEO, Founder and Father of 2 — Here Are 3 Practices That Help Me Maintain My Sanity.

This is a combination of active practices that I've put together over a decade of my intense entrepreneurial journey.

Business News

Remote Work Enthusiast Kevin O'Leary Does TV Appearance Wearing Suit Jacket, Tie and Pajama Bottoms

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary looks all business—until you see the wide view.

Business News

Are Apple Smart Glasses in the Works? Apple Is Eyeing Meta's Ran-Ban Success Story, According to a New Report.

Meta has sold more than 700,000 pairs of smart glasses, with demand even ahead of supply at one point.

Money & Finance

The 'Richest' U.S. City Probably Isn't Where You Think It Is

It's not located in New York or California.

Business News

Hybrid Workers Were Put to the Test Against Fully In-Office Employees — Here's Who Came Out On Top

Productivity barely changed whether employees were in the office or not. However, hybrid workers reported better job satisfaction than in-office workers.