The New Economy

Top 5 scariest Halloween costumes from Wall Street

It's been a bear year for business. But this year's scariest Halloween costumes from the business world include a moose. And a vampire squid.

Jim Watson/AFP

The Ponzi mask, a rubber likeness of Bernie Madoff who pleaded guilty in March 2009 to a Ponzi scheme that cost investors tens of billions, hangs on the wall at a costume store in Queenstown, Md. Mr. Madoff is one of our Top 5 scariest Halloween costumes from the business world. But he's not No. 1.

By David Grant Contributor

Oct. 30, 2009, 12:10 p.m. ET

Want to really scare friends and family this Halloween? Look no further than the economy. Here are our picks for the freakiest Halloween costumes inspired by the business world.

5. Tea Party activist

The Constitution protects the freedom of assembly. We'll leave it at that.

Costume: Glenn Beck T-shirt, blue jeans, old GOP political campaign buttons, placards with patriotic patois like "The Eagle Has Awoken!" Optional: Mouth foam, sidearm, "Don't tread on me" flag.

Fear factor: Varies depending on locality. Increases considerably with sidearm.

4. Moody's Spokesmoose

Developed to help Moody's, a financial ratings agency, after their reputation hit the skids during the near meltdown in the financial markets.

Costume: Run over standard moose costume with the heaviest vehicle parked nearby. On the costume's resulting treadmark, write "Financial Crisis" with a magic marker. Using said marker, give moose head two black eyes.

Fear factor: Low, but highest overall creepiness.

3. Galleon Insider Trading Pirate

After Raj Rajaratnam's alleged insider-trading malfeasance, the Wall Street pirates of Galleon Group are giving those Somali bandits a run for their money.

Costume: Pirate hat, expensive suit jacket, dangling gold chains. Buy old, boxy cellphone and cheap plastic sword. Detach blade from sword and glue to top of phone. Optional: Stacks of fake money. Lots of them.

Fear factor: Moderate.

2. Bernie Madoff

The man who knocked the Enron boys off the pantheon of Most Widely Known Crooks.

Costume: Bernie Madoff mask, orange jump suit, nostalgia. Optional: Handcuffs, leg chains, yarmulke.

Fear Factor: On the rise after Madoff triumphed in a jail yard brawl.

1. Vampire Squid – Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein

Inspired by Rolling Stone: "The world's most powerful investment bank is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money."

Costume: No clue. But you could start with this.

Fear Factor: ...Mommy!

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Pumpkin carving designs -- the political edition