16. Prop Money

February 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Narrative-driven podcast episode blending storytelling, history, and interviews—classic Freakonomics-style deep dive into an quirky everyday economics topic.
The Key Players:
- Zachary Crockett: Host and narrator, unpacking the wild world of prop money with engaging flair.
- Rich "R.J." Rappaport: Atlanta prop master at RJR Props; ex-tech guy turned movie money expert, famous for realistic fakes in Fast & Furious, Wolf of Wall Street, and rap videos.
- Glenn Kessler: Ex-Secret Service agent (26 years, protected 3 presidents); now Wells Fargo risk director, explaining legal gray areas.
- Juan Amaya: CEO of Prop Movie Money; supplies Hollywood (Succession, Narcos) and even DEA/police.
The Vibe: Intriguing and educational with a thrilling undercurrent—mix of Hollywood glamour, federal intrigue, and modern crime scares, laced with wry humor.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

The episode explores the bizarre economics of prop money: from film history to legal tightropes and real-world counterfeit chaos. Four core topics unpack how fake cash fuels movies but fuels crime too.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:08) **Rush Hour 2 Prop Money Incident**
2 (02:39) **History of Counterfeiting and Secret Service**
3 (03:28) **Rich Rappaport and RJR Props**
4 (06:19) **Secret Service Rules with Glenn Kessler**
5 (08:06) **Prop Money Production and Usage**
6 (13:59) **Prop Movie Money and Juan Amaya**
7 (16:18) **Rise of Counterfeit Prop Money Scams**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the fake money. This episode was originally published on September 3rd, 2023.

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