What if the key to success wasn’t grinding harder—but learning to let go? Chris Bakke made 10s of millions selling two companies, including one to Elon Musk’s Twitter. But after years of chasing big wins, something changed: he had kids. And suddenly, the drive that once defined him wasn’t as important as being present for his family. Chris started as a scrappy startup founder, building and selling multiple companies for over $50 million each. He worked directly with Elon, made bold investments, ...
Feb 04, 2025•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast What if chasing curiosity, not cash, was the key to a richer, more fulfilling life? Peter Wokwicz turned his relentless curiosity into a $500 million fortune—and found happiness along the way. Peter didn’t build his wealth by following the typical playbook. Instead of just chasing cash, he let his curiosity lead the way—and it’s resulted in over 40 successful exits, groundbreaking innovations, and a life that’s anything but boring. Now, with a thriving family office and a long list of projects, ...
Jan 28, 2025•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you obsessively checking your portfolio—or avoiding it entirely? What’s the right approach to managing your money post-exit? In this Mini-Wise episode, Sam Parr breaks down how three ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs—Chuck (net worth: hundreds of millions), Travis (net worth: $50M), and Anne Mahlum (net worth: $100M+)—handle the mental rollercoaster of market fluctuations. Each shares their unique strategy, from completely logging off to obsessively staying informed, and how these choices impact t...
Jan 21, 2025•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most people think Bryan Johnson just wants to live forever. They’re wrong. Bryan’s real goal is to leave a legacy that will last centuries. In this episode, we uncover the extraordinary vision of Bryan Johnson, an entrepreneur driven by the audacious mission to earn the respect of people living in the year 2500. Bryan isn’t just the man who sold Braintree (the parent company of Venmo) for $300 million—he’s an innovator investing every resource he has into shaping humanity’s future. From building...
Jan 14, 2025•49 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Why do we let numbers define us—and what happens when they finally stop moving? Fred’s journey from corporate finance to a multi-million-dollar exit reveals the emotional rollercoaster behind financial success and the unexpected lessons that follow. Fred, an introspective entrepreneur, sold his company for a mid-eight-figure sum. His story isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the sacrifices, anxieties, and the emotional toll of tying your self-worth to success. From his immigrant family upbringin...
Jan 07, 2025•46 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast RE-RUN If you have the money to put anything you could possibly want in your home, should you do it? This episode’s guest, “Hank” did, and as a result, his home ended up being 24,000 square feet. But with 24,000 square feet, there is a lot to go wrong. So are the upkeep, repairs, and bills worth the square footage? Can a home with all the fancy features you can imagine actually bring more joy to your life? Building (or buying) a house this size is no small feat, and there are numerous things to ...
Dec 31, 2024•39 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast RE-RUN There was a time when Neil Patel said a $15k/month burn rate was all he needed. But now his monthly burn is $200k. Roughly. He’s not completely certain… because he doesn’t budget. So what changed in his life to make his burn rate increase nearly 14 fold? That’s what this episode is going to find out. Neil Patel is a household name (for marketers). He’s an entrepreneur and blogger known for his expertise in digital marketing and SEO. He co-founded companies like Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and K...
Dec 24, 2024•35 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast What’s the real cost of building wealth—and how do you stay grounded after achieving it? Steve Houghton, a billionaire entrepreneur, has a life philosophy that’s as intentional as his business strategies. From self-made success to crafting a fulfilling personal life, Steve shares the five pillars that help him stay healthy, happy, and wealthy. Steve’s journey started with selling books as a teenager, earning the equivalent of $100,000 today, and grew to building successful ventures in real estat...
Dec 17, 2024•43 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast RE-RUN Imagine being worth $150 million. Liquid. Now imagine being worth that much, and only spending $5,000 a month. That’s the reality for this episode’s guest. “Cam” is going to share a lot of financial details with us, so he’s asked to remain anonymous. What we can tell you, is that he made most of his money when a business he started went public at a valuation of around a billion dollars. That happened in his late 30s. In his early 30s, Cam was still only worth a couple grand. There’re a lo...
Dec 10, 2024•46 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when wealth pushes your relationships to the limit? Navigating life after a massive financial windfall isn’t easy—it can transform your life, your marriage, and your happiness in unexpected ways. Our guest, Chuck, shares his story of selling his company for $2.5 billion and the emotional and relational challenges that followed. His perspective is shaped not only by his own journey but also by a family history of building and losing fortunes. Chuck’s background is as bold as it gets....
Dec 04, 2024•39 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when the big exit doesn’t fill the void? Josh Payne thought selling his company for $80 million would be the defining moment of his life. Instead, it sent him into one of the darkest periods he’d ever experienced. Josh’s story is a testament to the complexity of success. As the founder of StackCommerce, Josh grew his company from $0 to $32 million in annual revenue, eventually selling it for a life-changing sum. But with his emotional wellbeing tied so closely to his business succes...
Nov 26, 2024•42 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast What would you do if you became a millionaire at 18? For MLB pitcher Jacob Turner, the real question was: how do I make sure I don't lose it all? Jacob signed a $7 million contract with the Detroit Tigers as a teenager, and suddenly, his life changed overnight. While most of us can’t imagine dealing with that level of wealth so young, Jacob had to figure it out fast—and he didn’t want to be another cautionary tale of an athlete who blew it all. Jacob Turner isn’t just a former MLB pitcher—he’s a...
Nov 19, 2024•45 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast We just hit our 25th episode! To celebrate, we’re doing a special recap of the best lessons from all our past conversations. Sam’s looking back at the standout advice from founders, entrepreneurs, and experts who opened up about what really happens when you hit major financial success—and the stuff no one talks about. You’ll hear insights from Mike Beckham on why giving back keeps lifestyle inflation in check, Dr. Becky’s take on raising resilient kids in a world of privilege, and advice from fo...
Oct 29, 2024•35 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Jess Mah is worth half a billion dollars—and she’s tired of pretending otherwise. Jess Mah, entrepreneur and founder of InDinero, dives into the power of radical transparency and how it’s impacted her personal and professional life. Raised by an entrepreneurial mother, Jess aspired to success from a young age, but her path to wealth wasn’t always smooth. By 34, she has built ownership stakes in several companies, but more importantly, she’s learned to stop caring what others think about her weal...
Oct 22, 2024•51 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast What’s the true value of money when faced with a life-or-death situation? Mitch found out the hard way when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. As a highly successful entrepreneur with a net worth of nearly $100 million, Mitch had built a life of financial security. But when faced with his wife’s illness and his own health scare, he discovered that no amount of money could buy control over life’s toughest moments. Mitch's story is one of resilience, from his early entrepreneurial days, selling c...
Oct 15, 2024•49 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when you don’t sell your company and keep growing it for decades? For Oscar, it means you become a billionaire. Oscar bought a company every six weeks for 20 years and now his business is worth about $50 billion. Yet, he still wears $15 t-shirts and lives by the values that helped him achieve success. In this episode, he shares how he became a billionaire while always putting family and faith first. He discusses his humble beginnings, the influence of his father, and how he’s now pa...
Oct 08, 2024•47 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast Can success create a false sense of invincibility? For Pete, it did—and it cost him millions. After selling his business for $80 million, Pete felt unstoppable. But his overconfidence led him into a risky venture that didn’t pay off. Determined to prove he wasn’t a one-hit wonder, Pete ignored the warnings, thinking his past success guaranteed future wins. Instead, he faced one of the hardest losses of his career. In this episode, Pete shares how his upbringing shaped his hunger for security, ho...
Oct 01, 2024•41 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast How Do You Stop Hustling When You’ve Already Won? Laura Roeder told herself that at $5 million liquid she could live the life she wanted and refocus her life on what matters most: living. Unlike a lot of entrepreneurs who get caught up in the game and keep chasing more, Laura stayed true to that goal and quit hustling harder than she had to. But how did she avoid the endless treadmill for more? Laura Roeder, founder and successful SaaS entrepreneur, joins the show to share her journey of hitting...
Sep 24, 2024•43 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered what it feels like to be the richest person in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere? Today’s guest, Travis, is worth $50m, yet he’s never been tempted to leave his hometown of 2400 people. Travis has already had an exit of $25m, and he’s about to double that with a second exit. Now he’s navigating life as the local big shot. From curious neighbors asking about his money to balancing wealth without being flashy, Travis shares the surprising perks—and awkward challenges—of being a bi...
Sep 17, 2024•40 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast 13 million dollars is a lot. But is it enough to retire on? For pre-epiphany Ryan Begelman, the answer is no. Ryan built his wealth working in the corporate world, then decided to risk it all and bought into Bisnow. That risk paid off, and Ryan made a huge profit. But despite his successes, he found himself grappling with lifestyle inflation, misguided investments, and financial uncertainty. In this episode, Ryan opens up about his struggles with managing wealth after a big exit, how flashy spen...
Sep 10, 2024•43 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast Worried that your wealth might turn your kids into spoiled, unmotivated adults? Dr. Becky’s here to show us how to raise resilient, grounded kids even when money isn’t an issue. She’s the force behind "Good Inside", often called the "millennial parent whisperer." With a clinical psychology background, and her own experience parenting young kids while founding a rapidly growing successful business, she’s full of valuable insights on how to raise kids in a wealthy environment without them becoming...
Aug 20, 2024•46 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine waking up one day to find nearly everything you've worked for is gone. Today’s guest, Domenic, lived through that nightmare. His story begins at Facebook, where he was one of the early employees during the dawn of the social media era. He wisely took as much equity as possible, which paid off handsomely when the company went public. Despite his newfound wealth, a series of unfortunate decisions—risky investments, a poorly negotiated acquisition, and unforeseen personal losses—led him to ...
Aug 13, 2024•45 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Dating is already weird and vulnerable, but when you’re wealthy, talking finances can feel like dropping a bombshell. In this episode, we explore the complexities of dating with significant wealth and how to handle the inevitable conversations about money. Today's guest, who we'll call Alex, is worth around $133 million. His journey to wealth began with a company he founded with his now ex-wife, and he’s here to share his experiences on navigating the dating world post-divorce. Alex started his ...
Aug 06, 2024•36 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Falling in love, getting married and spending the rest of your life together with someone can be one of the most magical things in the world. But when the matter of money gets involved, things can get well… complicated. What was once a dream can very quickly become a nightmare and reveal something much more sinister. Which is what Jennifer experienced first-hand. At the start of their marriage, Jennifer and her husband were on the same page on everything. Everything except how they were going to...
Jul 30, 2024•36 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast How much money do you need to be happy? Money alone is not going to make you a happy person, but it can sure as hell help you get there. Money can buy you security, time, health, and safety for you and your loved ones, and it can relieve stress when it comes to life's financial pressures. To say that money can't impact your happiness is naive. But what we want to know is, when is enough, enough? If you don't know that number, you can easily slip into the hole of always needing and wanting more, ...
Jul 23, 2024•33 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Confidence is key, but confidence is earned. And Anne Mahlum has earned hers. She has dedicated her life to self-improvement and continuous learning. Because of that, combined with her insanely positive attitude, she’s built a networth of well over $100M. Her confidence in herself is evident. In fact, she once turned down a significant investment into her start-up in favor of using her entire personal net worth instead. In this episode, Anne reveals the origins of her drive and how it has evolve...
Jul 16, 2024•59 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Getting rich at any age is pretty cool. But being rich in your late teens and early 20s? Of course, that’s awesome, but it can be difficult to navigate wealth when you’re basically still a kid. That was the case for my buddy, Andrew Wilkinson. He invested in and sold a few tech companies early on and thought he was set for life. He bought whatever he wanted. But he had a serious wake-up call in 2008 when the stock market crashed and he almost lost everything. In this episode, Andrew shares a num...
Jul 09, 2024•34 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Young people these days talk about wanting balance in their lives. Well according to Scott Galloway, that means you don’t want to be rich. Building wealth is no easy feat. It requires determination, hard work and sacrifice. But luck plays a huge role too. Scott shares stories with us that he’s rarely talked about publicly. He dives into the strategies that helped him build his fortune. He’s also got loads of lessons learned from his biggest failures. He went from being worth around 30 million to...
Jul 02, 2024•48 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Why would you give up $500k/month personal cash flow? Despite his company's rapid profit growth, Marshall Haas chose to forgo his substantial income for mental space and a $26M exit. Before considering selling his main company, Marshall had already begun offloading smaller businesses. In this episode, recorded just weeks after his major exit, Marshall provides a fresh perspective on the exit process, the differences in selling larger versus smaller companies, and his reasons for selling despite ...
Jun 25, 2024•37 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Remember when Andrew Carnegie wrote that he was removing the pursuit of money from his life? Probably not, because he didn’t follow through on it. This was even before he founded the Carnegie Steel Corporation and became one of the richest people in the world. Today’s guest, however, also decided to cut himself off from earning more. And he followed through. By the time Jeff was in his forties, he was worth over $120 million. After a three-part exit from his company, Jeff decided that pursuing m...
May 14, 2024•40 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast 
