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. Check out his latest humor books for kids, including Wendell the Werewolf, Road & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, and The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Opening a New McDonald's Franchise Will Be More Expensive in 2024

Starting January 1, franchise royalty fees will rise from 4% to 5% for new locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Business News

'Bar Tab Was Almost 80%': Restaurant Slams Well-Known Columnist After He Goes Viral For Claiming His Meal Cost $78

A photo of a burger and fries from 1911 Smokehouse BBQ at Newark Airport went viral for its alleged price, but the restaurant says the man didn't factor in his many alcoholic drinks.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

Too many entrepreneurs are counting too heavily on a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

Here's the Secret to Growing Your Small Business, According to Execs at UPS, Airbnb, Mastercard, and Other Big Brands

These 10 executives work at big companies, overseeing programs that help small business. Here's the advice they wish all small business owners were getting.

Business News

Is Your Relationship With Your Work at a Breaking Point? You're Not Alone, Survey Finds

In a new survey by HP, 83% of unhappy workers said they are willing to earn less to be happier at their job.

Business News

'An Absolute Prize': Rare Great Depression $10,000 Bill Sells For Nearly $500,000

The $10,000 bill is from 1934 and was never in circulation.