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In high school, I recall reading a book published in 1955 by Thomas B. Costain, The Tontine. The story takes place in 19th-century Europe. It was about a group of people who put money in a notoriously risky investment scheme called a tontine. Back in those days this type of device was used by governments as a means of raising money. So, how did a tontine work? A group of investors of varying means and backgrounds would contribute equal amounts of cash to a pool, the total of which would be given to the last participant who survived. Of course, over the years, the government agency holding the funds had exclusive use of the money. This type of arrangement led to intrigue and crime, including murder, as the participants schemed to be the 'last man standing.' If by some circumstance, and perhaps with a bit of help from the government agency, the last man standing died before payment was issued, the government agency holding the funds got to keep all the money. Sometime after the 19th Century, tontines in their original form, were deemed illegal. An annuity type tontine is still allowed in Europe. I wonder what would happen if someone tried something similar to the original tontine in our time? Lets take a look.

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