Everything to Know About Netflix’s ‘Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict’: Cast, Plot, and Shocking Truth

Published 11/10/2025, 12:54 PM EST

Netflix's newest documentary is already shaking up the platform, as it questions the end of empires and the rapid spread of secrets. Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict takes viewers into the darkest realm of consequences in a true high-profile case that made its way to the dinner table talk from newspaper headlines. After a brilliant ascent, the descent is calamitous, and every moment in between is more disturbing than one could think, in this documentary.

Get ready to dive into the unexplored abyss of crimes that glitter like gold.

What Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict covers: Cast, plot, and release

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Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict is a limited documentary series that arrived on Netflix on November 5, 2025. It narrates the shocking downfall of Italian entrepreneur Alberto Genovese, whose dark allegations were long buried under the tech triumphs and lavish lifestyle. With befitting visuals and enticing narration, Genovese's high-profile criminal case has not only been covered with a flawless dramatization in the series but also includes interviews of real investigators, victims, insiders, and archival footage. 

Netflix presents the documentary in three parts, with each episode running for 40–45 minutes. The production reconstructs the way legal issues came about through Milan's exclusive Terrazza Sentimento penthouse parties and luxury excesses. Each episode neatly outlines the gritty decline of a billionaire's empire that began with the discovery of abuse, which led to countless victims of Genovese. Set in Milan, Italy, the series is available in various languages, including Italian (original) and English. The docuseries excavates how a billionaire's power, privilege, and luxury masked his true crimes.

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Netflix has mastered the art of docuseries with several critical topics, from Jeffrey Epstein to TikTok cults, and it is not a mere reproduction of facts. However, the true story of Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict is as wild as fiction can be.

The real-life story of Alberto Genovese

Alberto Genovese, who was a tech giant in Italy, became a convicted felon. He rose to power in the 2000s and 2010s, finding success in online insurance and startups. Following a successful startup, luxurious parties in his Milan penthouse finally led to police investigations after a victim managed to escape hours after suffering abuse in October 2020. 

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After successful investigations, Genovese, who reportedly cried, blaming his deeds on drug-induced haze, went to prison. Police considered his finances and sponsors as tools to hide his crimes of abuse. The documentary series unearths this interplay between the dominion and privilege of the billionaire through statements from the women who came forward against him, as well as real-life investigators.

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Ipshita Chakraborty

347 articles

Ipshita Chakraborty is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie. Offering thoughtful and compelling storytelling, they cover everything Hollywood and trending, from the latest streaming sensations to behind-the-scenes buzz. With about 7 years of writing experience for online media, Ipshita brings their voice to the coverage through industry analysis and cultural critique, a strength evident in prior work, such as their views on why the Michaela gender swap was needed in Bridgerton.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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