Lehman Brothers, founded in 1850, became the fourth-largest investment bank in the United States by leveraging its expertise in securities and investment banking. In the years leading up to its bankruptcy, Lehman had aggressively pursued growth and high-risk investments, particularly in the subprime mortgage market. As housing prices began to fall and mortgage defaults increased, Lehman's financial health rapidly deteriorated, resulting in significant losses. Efforts to secure a buyout or federal assistance failed, culminating in a dramatic declaration of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York. This filing, encompassing over $600 billion in assets, marked the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, triggering mass panic in financial markets worldwide. The bankruptcy not only affected Lehman’s employees and shareholders but also instigated a loss of confidence in financial institutions across the globe. Governments and central banks were forced to intervene with unprecedented measures to stabilize the financial system.