The Altruists arrives on Netflix on Thursday, November 19, 2026, as an eight-episode limited series about the rise and collapse of the crypto exchange FTX. Julia Garner plays Caroline Ellison, Anthony Boyle plays Sam Bankman-Fried, and Netflix is releasing every episode at once.
Here is who is in the cast, who made the show, how much of it is real and where to watch. We update this page if Netflix announces anything new. Last updated on October 16, 2026.
The Altruists at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| Release | Thursday, November 19, 2026 |
| Where to watch | Netflix, worldwide |
| Format | Limited series, 8 episodes, all released at once |
| Stars | Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle |
| Creator and showrunner | Graham Moore |
| Co-showrunner | Jacqueline Hoyt |
| Executive producers | Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, with New York Magazine and Vox Media Studios, among others |
| Based on | Reporting by Kevin T. Dugan and Jen Wieczner for New York Magazine |
| Trailer | First official trailer is out |
The Altruists Cast and Characters
The leads and many of the supporting characters are based on real people from the FTX story. This is the cast Netflix has announced.
| Actor | Role |
| Anthony Boyle | Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX founder |
| Julia Garner | Caroline Ellison, Alameda Research |
| Alex Lawther | Sam Trabucco |
| Karan Soni | Nishad Singh |
| Eugene Young | Gary Wang |
| Matt Rife | Ryan Salame |
| Paul Reiser | Joe Bankman |
| Robin Weigert | Barbara Fried |
| Jennifer Grey | Sara Fisher Ellison |
| Terry Chen | CZ |
| Jack Greenlees | Will MacAskill |
| Hudson Williams | Duncan Rheingans-Yoo |
Is The Altruists a True Story?
Yes, it is based on real events, but it is a drama, not a documentary. The series draws on New York Magazine reporting by Kevin T. Dugan and Jen Wieczner, and the scenes and conversations are written by the show’s creators. Netflix pitches Bankman-Fried and Ellison as “Gen Z’s own Bonnie & Clyde.”
The real case is a matter of court record. Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven counts of fraud over the collapse of FTX, and Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced him to 25 years in prison on March 28, 2024. The case centered on at least $8 billion in customer funds.
Ellison cooperated with prosecutors and testified against him at his 2023 trial. She was sentenced to two years, began serving on November 7, 2024, and was released from a halfway house in New York on January 21, 2026, according to federal prison records cited by several outlets.
Who Made The Altruists
Graham Moore created the series and runs it with Jacqueline Hoyt. The directors are James Ponsoldt (episode 1), Kyle Patrick Alvarez (episodes 2 and 3), Mairzee Almas (episodes 4 and 5), Moore himself (episode 6) and Silver Tree (episodes 7 and 8).
The Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions is an executive producer, and Garner is also an executive producer on the show.
How to Watch The Altruists
The Altruists streams only on Netflix. All eight episodes arrive on November 19, so there is no weekly schedule to follow.
More to Stream This Season
Another big Netflix return lands a week later: see our guide to The Hunting Wives season 2, which premieres on Thanksgiving Day. For reality TV, our Love Is Blind: Boston cast guide and the weekly reality TV schedule show what is on right now.
The Altruists FAQ
When does The Altruists come out?
Thursday, November 19, 2026, on Netflix.
How many episodes does The Altruists have?
Eight, and they are all released at once.
Who plays Sam Bankman-Fried in The Altruists?
Anthony Boyle.
Who plays Caroline Ellison in The Altruists?
Julia Garner.
Is The Altruists a limited series?
Yes. Netflix describes it as a limited crime series, so the story is told in one season.
Who created The Altruists?
Graham Moore, with Jacqueline Hoyt as co-showrunner.
Where can I watch The Altruists?
Only on Netflix.
This guide is based on Netflix announcements and entertainment news coverage, and court details come from public reporting on the case.
