This may be exactly what the Rothschilds planned.  Many billionaires have done this.  Leverage a company deeply in debt and then once your goals are accomplished with investor dollars, walk away. I don't think the comments on this post reflect how catastrophic this could be for Californians. That matters to the rest of the world since as the world's 5th largest economy California can be a drag on the world's economy. PG&E borrowed 18b, this source says in unsecured bonds.  I imagine that was to put in smart meters other crap infrastructure.  Unsecured Bonds are not backed by any collateral. If PG and E were to default, The California gov would have to raise the money to pay back those investors.  Or the investors who loaned loose everything they loaned. This probably means either a large increase in taxes and/or a cutting of gov funded services.  California has passed a law stating PG and E can pass all costs associated with past Legal settlements on to their subscribers in the form of rate hikes. As soon as paradise was on fire they began work to add the paradise fire liabilities to that existing bill. PG and E was on the hook for nothing.  If they declare bankruptcy, it will be intentional.  I imagine that another company will step in and assume all their property and none of their debt.  And that company may be owned by Rothschild.