The difference between Strauss and Ranieri?" says one trader still at Salomon. "That's easy. Strauss wouldn't stoop to use the men's room on the trading floor. He'd go upstairs. Lewie would piss on your desk.
In Michael Lewis's "Liar's Poker," a trader reflects on the contrasting personalities of two influential figures, Strauss and Ranieri, at Salomon Brothers. The trader highlights Strauss’s professionalism and desire to maintain a level of decorum, indicating he would avoid using the trading floor's facilities and instead opt for the more private upstairs restroom. In stark contrast, Ranieri embodies a more brash and irreverent attitude, displaying a lack of concern for social norms. The trader’s comment about Ranieri being willing to relieve himself on someone’s desk underscores his bold and disruptive nature, illustrating how both characters represent different approaches and cultures within the intense environment of Wall Street trading.