But this isn't the same kind of thing. When the court sets bail, you give them that amount as like a deposit. When you show up to court, you get it back. Looks of people don't have the cash though, so they go to a ball bondsman, give them 10% of the total amount, and the bondsman pays the court the whole amount. When you show up to court, the bondsman gets that amount back, and they keep your 10%.

So yes, it's a loan, but it's a really shitty loan. I can't see how he wouldn't be better off just paying the full amount himself unless he thinks he can successfully skip town.

Not exactly. Rich people pay cash when doing so avoids fees. It would only make financial sense if bail bonds in Georgia go for below market rates.

If he could have paid bail through a PAC or one of his companies, that would most probably be cheaper.

He likely doesn't have $200K to his personal name (to avoid tax) and is probably not allowed to pay bail from his PAC or company.

Except when you give 10% to the bail bondsman, you don't get that money back.

Seriously this. Or if the borrowing rate is less than what you can make in the mean time by keeping it, why would you?

This isn't borrowing. This is paying.