Murder in Monaco: The Billionaire Banker's Deadly Fire
Netflix's new documentary examines the 1999 death of Lebanese-Brazilian banking magnate Edmond Safra and the nurse convicted of setting the fatal blaze
On December 3, 1999, a fire erupted in the penthouse of billionaire banker Edmond Safra in Monaco's Belle Époque building, claiming his life and that of his nurse. Twenty-five years later, Netflix's Murder in Monaco revisits the case that convicted Ted Maher, the former Green Beret employed as a nurse, while raising questions about the investigation itself.
Safra, 67, was a Lebanese-Brazilian banking magnate and founder of Republic National Bank of New York. Just months before his death, he had sold his banking empire to HSBC for $10.3 billion—a transformative transaction that should have marked the pinnacle of his career. However, Safra was battling Parkinson's disease at the time, a condition that would complicate the events of that December night.
The penthouse where Safra lived was a fortress. Described as heavily fortified with state-of-the-art security features, the residence included a reinforced bathroom that functioned as a panic room. Security guards, reportedly trained by Mossad, typically patrolled the premises—but notably, none were on duty the night of the fire.
Ted Maher, a former Green Beret working as a nurse at the residence, was arrested and convicted of arson causing death. According to authorities, Maher's motive stemmed from workplace tensions: he feared losing his job due to conflict with the senior nurse on staff. Investigators concluded that Maher set fire to a wastepaper basket inside the penthouse, then stabbed himself in an apparent attempt to stage a heroic rescue that would rehabilitate his position.
The fire killed Safra through smoke inhalation and also claimed the life of Vivian Torrente, another nurse present in the residence. The incident sent shockwaves through Monaco's elite circles and beyond.
