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BBC World Service · Business

Good Bad Billionaire

How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? New episodes include: Sir Paul McCartney, Roger Federer, MrBeast, Luana Lopes Lara, Beyoncé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Spielberg. Make up your minds whether you think they are good, bad or just another billionaire. In each episode, BBC Business Editor Simon Jack and journalist and author Zing Tsjeng analyse the lives of the super-rich, and try to understand what motivates billionaires like Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey. New season: From singing superstar Beyoncé, to footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Simon and Zing will rate their wealth, power, legacy and associated controversies, putting them to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard. Then they hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? Get in touch by email and let us know what you think! The contact details are at the end of these show notes. Ever wondered how Taylor Swift went from country singer to money-spinner? How tennis ace Roger Federer turned sporting prowess into amazing business opportunities? Or how Mr Beast and Khaby Lame became some of the wealthiest people on the planet by posting on YouTube and TikTok? Trawl through the archives to find out how Selena Gomez went from a child Disney star to a mega-magnate of makeup, and how Martha Stewart, the “original lifestyle influencer”, became one of the most successful women in business. We explore the life of British inventor Sir James Dyson, and learn about some of the big names behind Snapchat, Minecraft, Marvel, ChatGPT, Google and Amazon, which shape the world we live in today. In a special season, we have also told the stories of the pioneers who helped build the United States of America: the world’s first billionaire John D Rockefeller, motor magnate Henry Ford, the aviator and filmmaker Howard Hughes, Walmart founder Sam Walton, and Hetty Green - once dubbed “The Witch of Wall Street”. It's not just how billionaires made their money; it's what they did with it next. So, what do you think? Make up your own mind. Are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? Let us know your thoughts, and we may include your comments and suggestions in a future episode. If you do not wish for your comments, first name or location to be read out, please say that in your email or message, or mark it confidential. Email [email protected] or drop us a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. To find out more about the show and read our privacy notice, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire

Episodes

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Martha Stewart: The original lifestyle influencer

17 Mar 2025
51m
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This podcast episode of "Good Bad Billionaire" profiles Martha Stewart, examining her journey from a resourceful child to America's first self-made female billionaire. The hosts trace her career progression, highlighting key moments like her catering business, book publishing success, Kmart collaboration, and the laun...

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Encore - Chuck Feeney: All duty

17 Feb 2025
38m
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This podcast episode profiles Chuck Feeney, a largely unknown billionaire who secretly donated almost his entire $8 billion fortune to philanthropic causes. The hosts discuss Feeney's life, from his humble beginnings during the Great Depression to his entrepreneurial success in the duty-free industry and his eventual,...

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Encore - Taylor Swift: Swiftonomics

03 Feb 2025
53m
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This "Good Bad Billionaire" episode is a co-hosted discussion analyzing Taylor Swift's career and financial success, culminating in her billionaire status. The hosts trace her journey from a young songwriter in Pennsylvania to a global superstar, highlighting key moments like her early record deals, major album releas...

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Peter Thiel: Paypal mafioso

02 Dec 2024
46m
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In this podcast episode, we delve into the life of Peter Thiel, a billionaire renowned for his unconventional perspectives and investments in major tech firms like PayPal and Facebook. The conversation highlights Thiel's unique choices, such as his quest for immortality and his intricate relationship with politics. We ...

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Doris Fisher: Don’t mind The Gap

25 Nov 2024
42m
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In this episode of Good Bad Billionaire, the spotlight is on Doris Fisher, the co-founder of The Gap, and her remarkable journey to billionaire status. The discussion highlights the innovative retail strategies the Fishers implemented in the 1960s, their early successes, and the challenges they faced during their initi...

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Carlos Slim Helú: Telecom titan

18 Nov 2024
46m
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In this episode of Good Bad Billionaire, the spotlight is on Carlos Slim Helú, a Mexican entrepreneur who once held the title of the world's richest person. The podcast explores his evolution from a financially astute teenager to a centi-billionaire, emphasizing his strategic investments in undervalued assets during cr...

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Roman Abramovich: Premier League oligarch

11 Nov 2024
40m
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This podcast episode delves into the life and career of Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch famous for owning Chelsea Football Club. It follows his remarkable journey from an orphaned childhood to building a multi-billion dollar empire through oil and aluminum trading during the chaotic post-Soviet privatization per...

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Mukesh Ambani: Asia’s richest person

04 Nov 2024
42m
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In this podcast episode, we explore the intriguing life and career of Mukesh Ambani, from his modest beginnings to his emergence as a billionaire business leader. The discussion sheds light on his complex relationship with his brother Anil, highlighting their diverging paths after a significant family conflict that res...

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Patrice Motsepe: Mining magnate

28 Oct 2024
40m
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This podcast episode explores the inspiring journey of Patrice Motsepe, who rose from a boy facing the challenges of apartheid in South Africa to become the nation's first black billionaire. It highlights his struggles with racial segregation and limited access to education, as well as his shift from law to the mining ...

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Jack Ma: China's ecommerce CEO

21 Oct 2024
43m
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In this podcast episode, we explore the incredible story of Jack Ma, tracing his rise from modest beginnings to billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Alibaba. It highlights his relentless pursuit of success, showcasing how he navigated significant challenges to transform Alibaba from the brink of bankruptcy into a gl...

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Yvon Chouinard: A $3 billion giveaway

14 Oct 2024
47m
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This podcast episode tells the inspiring story of Yvon Chouinard, who rose from a resourceful child with a love for the outdoors to founding Patagonia, a company celebrated for its sustainability efforts. It showcases his innovative approach to creating climbing gear and the pivotal shift in his business model that emb...

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Whitney Wolfe Herd: Dating app entrepreneur

07 Oct 2024
42m
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In this podcast episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Whitney Wolfe Herd. Starting with her role in developing the swipe feature at Cardify and co-founding Tinder, the episode highlights her resilience amidst a challenging landscape, including a well-known discrimination lawsuit in the tech industry. Wolfe Herd...

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Aliko Dangote: Africa’s richest person

30 Sep 2024
38m
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This podcast episode delves into the remarkable life and success of Aliko Dangote, tracing his journey from a privileged upbringing in Nigeria to becoming Africa's richest person and a formidable industrialist. It highlights his early ventures, strategic business decisions in manufacturing, and diversification into key...

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Sam Altman: ChatGPT and the AI revolution

23 Sep 2024
45m
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This podcast episode delves into Sam Altman's remarkable journey from venture capitalist to billionaire and co-founder of OpenAI, exploring the organization’s transformation and the controversy surrounding its groundbreaking ChatGPT technology. It highlights Altman's strategic investments, the shift of OpenAI from a no...

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Zhang Yiming: TikTok’s tech boss

16 Sep 2024
46m
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This podcast episode delves into the remarkable journey of ByteDance, highlighting its evolution from a news aggregation app to the global phenomenon TikTok, while examining the entrepreneurial spirit of Zhang Yiming. It navigates through the challenges and triumphs of creating a platform that has significantly influen...

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Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Beer, brewing and biotech

09 Sep 2024
34m
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This podcast episode chronicles the inspiring journey of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a trailblazer who transformed challenges into opportunities, ultimately establishing Biocon as a leader in the pharmaceutical industry. From her initial setbacks in the brewing sector to her successful pivot into biotechnology, Kiran's resili...

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George Soros: 'The man who broke the Bank of England'

02 Sep 2024
45m
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This podcast episode delves into the life and career of George Soros, tracing his path from millionaire to billionaire through his innovative investment strategies and high-stakes financial decisions, such as the Plaza Accord and Black Wednesday. It scrutinizes his legacy, encompassing both his substantial philanthropi...

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Jerry Seinfeld: The world’s richest comedian

26 Aug 2024
36m
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This podcast episode delves into the remarkable journey of Jerry Seinfeld, tracing his evolution from struggling comedian to the creator of a cultural phenomenon, "Seinfeld," while exploring the factors that propelled him into billionaire status through syndication success and streaming platforms.

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Peter Jackson: Lord of the Films

19 Aug 2024
46m
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This podcast episode chronicles the remarkable journey of Peter Jackson from his early days in low-budget filmmaking to becoming a titan in the film industry, highlighting his groundbreaking work with Weta Digital, the successful adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings," and his transition to billionaire status. Through t...

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Miuccia Prada: ‘Ugly fashion’

12 Aug 2024
40m
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This podcast episode delves into the compelling narrative of Miuccia Prada's journey from inheriting a family business steeped in tradition to revolutionizing the fashion world with her unique vision and innovative approach. Through a blend of personal and professional trials, including her politically charged upbringi...

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