Hey friend, Have you heard about the Top 10 most infamous Cheats in History? Let me tell you about it because some people will go to great lengths to get ahead! Cheating while universally condemned is an undeniable part of human history. It pops up in sports, politics, academics, and even relationships.
Some cheats are so outrageous that they’ve become legendary, leaving a lasting imprint on culture. From daring swindles to scandalous betrayals, these famous cheats in history are jaw-dropping.
Lance Armstrong’s Doping Scandal
Lance Armstrong, once hailed as a cycling legend for his seven Tour de France wins, became one of the most infamous cheaters in sports history. Armstrong had long denied rumors of doping until a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation revealed that he was part of a massive and
sophisticated doping operation. He used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career, pulling the wool over the eyes of fans and sports authorities alike. Armstrong’s public fall from grace in 2012 shocked the world and remains one of the most talked-about cheating scandals in history.
Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal is one of the most infamous political cheats in U.S. history, bringing down a sitting president, Richard Nixon. In 1972, members of Nixon’s re-election committee broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters to bug the office and steal secret
documents. What was initially a small break-in spiraled into a massive cover-up orchestrated by the Nixon administration. After a lengthy investigation, Nixon was forced to resign in 1974, becoming the only U.S. president to do so. Watergate remains the ultimate example of political deceit and corruption.
The Black Sox Scandal
In 1919, baseball’s World Series was rocked by the infamous Black Sox Scandal. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers. The conspiracy to fix the World Series,
orchestrated by gamblers like Arnold Rothstein, shook the foundations of America’s pastime. While the players were acquitted in court, they were banned from baseball for life. This cheating scandal forever tarnished the sport and remains one of the most notorious examples of corruption in athletics.
Rosie Ruiz’s Marathon Fraud
Rosie Ruiz pulled off one of the most bizarre and blatant cheats in marathon history. In 1980, she stunned the world by winning the Boston Marathon with a record time in the women’s category. However, her victory quickly unraveled when it was
discovered that Ruiz hadn’t run the full race. Instead, she joined the marathon about half a mile before the finish line! Investigations revealed that Ruiz had pulled a similar stunt at the New York City Marathon. While she briefly enjoyed the spotlight, her cheating left an indelible stain on marathon history.
The Hitler Diaries Hoax
In 1983, one of the most audacious historical forgeries shook the world: the Hitler Diaries hoax. German magazine Stern announced it had discovered a trove of Adolf Hitler’s personal diaries, which promised to reveal new insights into the dictator’s thoughts.
The news spread like wildfire. However, it turned out the diaries were complete forgeries created by notorious conman Konrad Kujau. Despite the initial excitement, handwriting analysis revealed the diaries were fake, and the entire episode became a cautionary tale about the dangers of gullibility in historical scholarship.
Ben Johnson’s Olympic Doping Scandal
In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson became a national hero after winning gold in the 100-meter dash, beating out rival Carl Lewis and setting a new world record. However, within days, his triumph turned to disgrace when it was
discovered that Johnson had tested positive for steroids. He was stripped of his gold medal and record, igniting an international scandal about doping in sports. Johnson’s fall from grace was not just a personal failure—it exposed the extent of cheating in track and field, leading to more stringent anti-doping efforts.
The Great Emu War of 1932
While the Great Emu War itself wasn’t a cheat, the aftermath certainly has some elements of deception. In 1932, Australia declared war on its native emu population because the birds were destroying crops. The military went in, fully armed, ready to eliminate the birds.
But here’s where the “cheat” comes in—after extensive efforts, including machine guns, the emus proved too resilient, outmaneuvering the soldiers at every turn. The press reported it as an embarrassing loss for Australia. While not a traditional “cheat,” the military certainly didn’t play fair, and the emus emerged victorious in this bizarre historical footnote.
Milli Vanilli Lip-Sync Scandal
The pop duo Milli Vanilli, composed of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, shot to stardom in the late 1980s with hits like “Girl You Know It’s True.” They even won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1990. But their meteoric rise came crashing down when it
was revealed that the two had never sung on their records. Instead, studio singers had recorded the tracks, and Milli Vanilli lip-synced during live performances. The revelation rocked the music industry, and they were stripped of their Grammy, becoming one of the most infamous cheats in pop culture history.
The College Admissions Scandal
In 2019, a massive cheating scandal erupted in the U.S., revealing that wealthy parents, including celebrities like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, had bribed college officials to get their children admitted to elite universities. Known as the College
Admissions Scandal parents paid for falsified test scores and even staged photos to falsely represent their kids as star athletes. The scandal sparked a national conversation about privilege, fairness, and integrity in education. It was a reminder that even the country’s wealthiest are willing to cheat to secure an unfair advantage for their children.
The Enron Scandal
The early 2000s saw the rise and catastrophic fall of Enron, one of the largest energy companies in the world. Enron executives engaged in massive accounting fraud, hiding the company’s debts and inflating profits to deceive investors and regulators. When the truth came to light, Enron’s stock price
plummeted, wiping out billions of dollars in shareholder value. Thousands of employees lost their jobs and life savings, and several top executives were convicted of fraud. The Enron scandal became a symbol of corporate greed and remains one of the most infamous business cheats in history.
These 10 Most Infamous Cheats in History have taken many forms—some are amusing, others are deeply tragic, but all share a common thread: deception. From sports legends to political masterminds and corporate villains, these infamous cheats remind us that while cutting corners might seem tempting, the truth often catches up in spectacular fashion. Some of these cheats brought down empires, while others are remembered with a dark sense of humor.
