Sam Zell is one of the nastiest predators of the financial market and is an example of why the U.S. economy is going down the toilet.

The former CEO was given more than $40 million when Zell took charge. Citigroup and Merrill Lynch were paid $36 million each for being “advisors” on the deal. Morgan Stanley, got $7.5 million just for writing a “fairness opinion,” stating that Zell’s use of the pension fund was Kosher.

And Zell? He put up less than 4% of the purchase price to get control of the company, and while he might lose some of that, he cut the deal in a way that makes him a secured creditor. This means that if the Tribune’s assets have to be distributed to creditors as a result of the bankruptcy, Zell will be first in line to get his – standing in front of the employees whose company and pensions he wrecked.

If there was more regulation over 'pirate practices' like this our ecoonomy would be in much better shape.