Netflix gave 47 Ronin director Carl Rinsch $55 million to create a science-fiction series called Conquest. However, the project never materialized, and a significant portion of the funds were used for personal expenses and risky financial investments. Rinsch was later sentenced to 30 months in prison for misusing the money. The story began with a project initially named White Horse, which was later renamed Conquest. At the time, Rinsch had only one feature film to his name, 47 Ronin, a 2013 film starring Keanu Reeves that cost Universal $175 million. Netflix took an interest in Conquest, securing the rights and granting Rinsch creative freedom. Between 2018 and 2019, the streaming platform paid about $44 million for the series, which was filmed in Brazil, Uruguay, and Hungary. However, the series was never completed or released. In 2020, Netflix agreed to provide an additional $11 million to help finish the project. Instead of using the funds for production, Rinsch invested $10.5 million in high-risk stock market operations, losing nearly half of the amount within weeks. He then turned to cryptocurrencies, regaining about $27 million after selling Dogecoin in May 2021. Rinsch used this money to buy five Rolls-Royce cars and a Ferrari, along with furniture, antiques, watches, clothing, and luxury items. He also paid off $1.8 million in credit card debt. Keanu Reeves, who had contributed financially to the project, asked the court for "leniency" in his defense of Rinsch. However, Netflix won a legal battle against Rinsch, recovering the rights to the footage and receiving $8.8 million in compensation. In 2025, Rinsch was arrested and later found guilty of electronic fraud, money laundering, and illegal transactions. His defense cited mental health issues, medical mismanagement, professional stress, and a troubled divorce. Rinsch admitted to some of his mistakes but was sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2026, with additional financial penalties. He is currently in prison, and his appeal is ongoing.