Lords of War: Meet America’s War Profiteers
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and The Intercept

America’s military-industrial complex is the global engine of freedom and democracy…at least, that’s what Washington tells itself. A new mockumentary from the Quincy Institute and The Intercept takes a closer look at the Lords of War — the weapons-industry executives who are getting rich off of America’s endless wars.

Sure, it’s true that half of America’s $1 trillion war budget now goes straight to private contractors. And yes, weapons industry CEOs take home pay packages worth more than 150 times what the average enlisted soldier makes. But have you considered what the “hard work” and “innovation” of these corporate executives has made possible — from the mass death and displacement of millions during the war on terror, to the wholesale destruction of Palestinian life in Gaza?

Once you take a look at the luxury real estate that these CEOs acquired with the spoils of war, you’ll understand that this system really does work! Just, you know, not for you.

Learn more:

QUINCY INSTITUTE: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/lor…

THE INTERCEPT: https://theintercept.com/2026/09/24/w…