He was also the richest man in Rome, and a member of the first triumvirate with Caesar and Pompey whom he funded.
Politically he started as Sulla's supporter and build his political career and wealth on it (meaning brutal supression of populars)
He is also infamous for drowning the Spartacus uprising in blood and crucifying all captured rebels in a purest show of slaveowner cruelty ever (with Pompey). He also decimated his own army at some point of that war.
And what ultimately doomed him was envy and hubris, when both other triumvires proven their great military talent he wanted to outtalent them and went on a campaign against Parthia. It ended disastrously since Parthian tactic based on horse archers hit and run attacks proven extremely successful against Roman legions of mostly heavy infantry. He died during the tumultous ceasefire negotiations and after that Parthians allegedly poured molten gold in his throat so he would finally get sated.
Summarising, a fitting patron of today billionaires.