11 Insaaaane Things You Didn't Know About the Founder of Crazy Eddie Eddie Antar died this weekend at age 68.

By Jason Fell

Sven Nackstrand/AFP | Getty Images
Eddie Antar (R) once known as Crazy Eddie

Eddie Antar was an BIZ Experiences who realized the highs of business success as well as the lows of fraud and running from authorities. You might not recognize his name, but if you were alive in the late 1970s and 1980s, you'd be hard pressed not to know his business: he was the founder of the Crazy Eddie discount electronics store chain.

From his quirky TV and radio commercials, how could you forget that his prices were totally "inasaaaaaane!"

Antar died on Saturday. He was 68.

Born in 1947, Antar opened his first Crazy Eddie electronics store when he was in his early 20s, in Brooklyn, N.Y. With the help of his popular commercials – which aired for nearly 15 years and starred radio personality Jerry Carroll – the business grew into a small empire of stores up and down the East Coast. VCRs, video games and camcorders (remember those?) were hot sellers at the time.

But Antar's "success" wouldn't last forever. Here's a quick look at 11 moments during his rise and fascinatingly bizarre fall:

  1. Antar opened his first Crazy Eddie electronics store in 1969 on Kings Highway in Brooklyn.
  2. The term "crazy" came from Antar's wild sales style. Apparently, he'd accept customers' shoes as deposits on items like TVs or stereos.
  3. His first commercial aired in 1975. Each one ended with the phrase, "'Crazy Eddie, his prices are insaaaaaane!'' He continued to open new locations in the New York metro area.
  4. Riding the brand's popularity (those ads were memorable), Antar took the company public in 1984.
  5. At its height, the company had more than 40 locations from Boston to Philadelphia, and was generating as much as $350 million in revenue a year.
  6. By 1987, stockholders discovered that $45 million in merchandise was missing. His business and accounting practices were called into question and the stockholders staged a takeover of the company. After all, how could he have such insanely low prices?
  7. Federal prosecutors eventually charged Antar and his family of skimming cash and manipulating the company's stock.
  8. In 1989, Crazy Eddie filed for bankruptcy and its final store closed.
  9. The following year, Antar fled the country and was later found living in Israel. He was extradited and served seven years in U.S. prison.
  10. Antar's cousin, Sam, who was the company's CFO, pleaded guilty to fraud and later served as a consultant to governmental agencies that were investigating accounting fraud.
  11. In 2001, a newly freed Antar attempted to bring Crazy Eddie's back, selling electronics online. Despite the cheesy ads, there wasn't enough steam in the brand for a second go and the company failed.
Jason Fell

BIZ Experiences Staff

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the BIZ Experiences Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as BIZ Experiences.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

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

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.