The Oddest Martin Shkreli Story You'll Read Today

Internet villain and recent arrestee Martin Shkreli apparently idolizes Bill Gates, plans to become a rap mogul, and threatens high-schoolers. The New York Times has the transcript of a bizarre conversation between the notorious pharmaceutical CEO and some teenage fans days before his arrest on fraud charges Thursday. The conversation took place between Shkreli and a girl claiming to be a student at his former high school about four hours into one of his marathon live-streaming sessions. The girl asked Shkreli to go to a school dance with her and be best friends. He turned down both offers but noted he was "blushing." Then things got weird. Here are the highlights:

• "I'm trying to dominate the rap industry," said the man who paid $2 million for the only existing copy of a new Wu-Tang Clan album.
• “I think I’m going to have Hunter (his former high school) change their name to the Shkreli school," he told the girl, who didn't think he could pull it off.
• "I'm trying to bust him out," Shkreli said of rapper Bobby Shmurda, who he called "one of my good friends" and who is currently in jail on various charges.
• He doesn't like Republicans because he went to a Mitt Romney fundraiser that “was the most depressing night I’ve ever had.”
• Shkreli pointed out his similarities to Bill Gates, once "the most hated man in the world." "He was the most ruthless businessman to ever exist. That’s why he’s the richest man in the world now."
• “I’m going to be at the courtyard tomorrow, and I’m going to beat the [expletive] out of you," Shkreli allegedly threatened another student who joined the chat. "You can tell the principal, who, by the way, I have drinks with, so he’s not going to do [expletive].”
• "No, I was the bully," he said when asked if he was bullied in high school.

Read the full story here. (More Martin Shkreli stories.)