FIVE YEARS AFTER THE MELTDOWN, many losers — and some big winners

By Tom Petruno

September 14, 2013, 7:00 a.m

Never let a crisis go to waste, says an old rule of politics.

For some major players in the economy, the financial crisis that began five years ago this month with Lehman Bros.’ collapse turned out to be as much an opportunity as a calamity.

Although the memories that the anniversary evoke are overwhelmingly grim — cascading home foreclosures, bank failures, massive layoffs, diving stock prices — five years later some spectacular winners have emerged from the maelstrom, along with a more familiar list of pitiable losers.

PHOTOS: Key players in the financial crisis

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