It was totally his fault. He borrowed the money. There was no guarantee that he would be able to make enough money to pay it back. That was a reasonable amount of risk he took on. It didn't go his way. He wants the reward without the risk. It doesn't work that way. By his own admission, he let it go for years. That's why it ballooned. That's compound interest for you. I feel bad for him the same I feel bad for anyone who experiences financial stress. I've been through it myself. It sucks. Like him, much of my problems were of my own making.