Albert John Dunlap (July 26, 1937 – January 25, 2019) was an American corporate executive.[2][3] He was known at the peak of his career as a professional turnaround management specialist and downsizer. The mass layoffs at his companies earned him the nicknames "Chainsaw Al"[4] and "Rambo in Pinstripes", after he posed for a photo wearing an ammo belt across his chest.[5]

It was later discovered that his reputed turnarounds were elaborate frauds and his career was ended after he engineered a massive accounting scandal at Sunbeam Products, now a division of Newell Brands, that forced the company into bankruptcy.[6]

Dunlap is on the lists of "Worst CEOs of All Time" published by several business publications.[7][8] Fast Company noted that Dunlap "might score impressively on the Corporate Psychopathy checklist"[9][10] and in an interview, Dunlap freely admitted to possessing many of the traits of a psychopath, but considered them positive traits such as leadership and decisiveness.[11][12] He was a major benefactor of Florida State University.[13]

Midnight Writer

(25,613 posts)

5. Chainsaw Al is a hero to the business titans of today.

Reply to UpInArms (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:26 AM

Apr 10

The richest people in America have modeled their businesses after Chainsaw Al's methods.

Linda ladeewolf

(1,142 posts)

16. There are still people who want old Chainsaw.

Reply to Midnight Writer (Reply #5)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:40 AM

Apr 10

I heard he lives in a gated community in Florida and has body guards. He is probably afraid to go out alone.

orangecrush

(30,755 posts)

18. Chainsaw Elon

Reply to UpInArms (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:56 AM

Apr 10

.same shit, different chainsaw.

oldsoldierfadingfast

(337 posts)

31. First read your Reply title...

Reply to UpInArms (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 04:16 PM

Apr 10

starting with 'Chainsaw AI' as 'Chainsaw Artificial Intelligence' not "Chainsaw AL". Took me a moment to...

Baitball Blogger

(52,593 posts)

3. kick

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:29 AM

Apr 10

orangecrush

(30,755 posts)

6. K&R

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:36 AM

Apr 10

yorkster

(3,908 posts)

7. The "Bane"Capital of presidents..

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:42 AM

Apr 10

and that's just for starters, of course.

Response to Miles Archer (Original post)

yorkster This message was self-deleted by its author.

blue-wave

(5,434 posts)

10. It's called Vulture Capitalism

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:48 AM

Apr 10

Its' popularity started in the 80's.

orangecrush

(30,755 posts)

19. Jack Welsh

Reply to blue-wave (Reply #10)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:56 AM

Apr 10

Killed General Electric that way.

blue-wave

(5,434 posts)

22. Yes indeed.

Reply to orangecrush (Reply #19)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:10 PM

Apr 10

Mitt Romney and his company Bain Capitol come to mind. Another vulture capitalist know as "Chainsaw Al" was Albert Dunlap. Sadly the list is much longer. Vulture capitalism has and still is destroying corporate America and the lives of many Americans. If we want to blame something for the downfall of the middle class, look at vulture capitalism.

orangecrush

(30,755 posts)

30. 100%

Reply to blue-wave (Reply #22)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 03:52 PM

Apr 10

MadameButterfly

(4,124 posts)

32. And Mitt Romney is now a hero for voting to impeach Trump

Reply to blue-wave (Reply #22)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 06:19 PM

Apr 10

When the good guys are this bad....

King_Klonopin

(1,387 posts)

11. It's particularly disgusting and evil when they do it to hospitals...

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:59 AM

Apr 10

Case in point: Stewart Health Care. There will be others.
Our nation worships money and the wealthy. That's why the orange satan is our president.

Wicked Blue

(8,970 posts)

13. and to nursing homes

Reply to King_Klonopin (Reply #11)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:19 AM

Apr 10

flamingdem

(40,962 posts)

12. Selling off the National Parks too

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:00 AM

Apr 10

Grotesque

Exp

(1,005 posts)

14. It's also known as "privatizing the profit while socializing the cost." nt

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:25 AM

Apr 10

Bo Zarts

(26,410 posts)

15. US Forest Service?

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:30 AM

Apr 10

Fight your own fucking wildland fires.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,689 posts)

21. Maybe if they sweep them there won't be any fires

Reply to Bo Zarts (Reply #15)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:03 PM

Apr 10

Martin68

(27,967 posts)

17. That's the only way he knows how to do business.

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:47 AM

Apr 10

FakeNoose

(42,087 posts)

24. Well Chump's not even doing a good job at liquidating

Reply to Martin68 (Reply #17)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:47 PM

Apr 10

In fact all he really knows is how to bankrupt the businesses he used to own. He uses other people's (and taxpayers') money to line his own pockets, and he expects praise, gifts and tributes from well-wishers. But he has no idea how to manage a profitable business any more than he can lead a useful government. All these rookie mistakes are being made at our expense.

Justice matters.

(9,974 posts)

27. War-criminal liquidator is doing a killing...

Reply to FakeNoose (Reply #24)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 02:01 PM

Apr 10

The same way Hitler did a killing, but he had the misfortune of not having nuclear (atomic) bombs at his disposal at the time.

FakeNoose

(42,087 posts)

28. Oh sure, with all the grifting he's doing since the 2024 campaign, he's made a shit-ton of money

Reply to Justice matters. (Reply #27)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 03:12 PM

Apr 10

I don't think the liquidation sale is doing him any good though. It's other billionaires and tech-bros that are benefiting from the liquidation, so they will pony up in other ways. Chump can't collect donations for his next campaign because he can't run again.

MadameButterfly

(4,124 posts)

33. He's doing his best to change that

Reply to FakeNoose (Reply #28)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 06:22 PM

Apr 10

MadameButterfly

(4,124 posts)

34. He didn't learn how to manage his allowance

Reply to Martin68 (Reply #17)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 06:25 PM

Apr 10

when he was a kid. He never learned the concept of limited funds, or the need to balance income and spending. The whole world is a bottomless piggy bank for him. Even Epstein said Trump didn't understand real estate.

This guy, left to his own devices, would bankrupt the military.

GiqueCee

(4,541 posts)

20. Private Equity...

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:57 AM

Apr 10

... is a malignant cancer, modeled after the Mafia's practice of hostile takeovers, selling off assets, and saddling everyone else involved with the crushing debt. It is a corrupt business entity that doesn't deserve to exist.