As they built K5, Mr. Kives and Mr. Baum touted their connections, including with the billionaire financier Warren E. Buffett. In an interview, Mr. Buffett said Mr. Kives was a “name-dropper” who “might pitch that he has a connection to me, but he doesn’t.” Mr. Buffett said he had known Mr. Kives from his time at Creative Artists Agency. Since then, he said, Mr. Kives has contacted him about a few investment opportunities, which he declined. In late 2021, Mr. Kives used his network to forge a relationship with Mr. Bankman-Fried, who was rising in prominence as cryptocurrencies boomed. They got in touch over email, the lawsuit said, and Mr. Kives introduced Mr. Bankman-Fried to the musician Sia.

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Persons: Kives, Baum, Warren E, Buffett, dropper, ” Mr, Sia, Fried, Kives’s, Perry, Bloom, FTX Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, Super, K5 Locations: Beverly Hills, Calif, Bahamas