Good Bad Billionaire Podcast
How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? Make up your minds whether you think they are good, bad or just another billionaire.
How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? Find out with the Good Bad Billionaire podcast - now with a chance for you to have your say. Make up your minds whether you think they are good, bad or just another billionaire.
In each episode of Good Bad Billionaire, ѿý 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 Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey.
From acting-giant turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, to Spanx-founder Sara Blakely, Simon and Zing rate their wealth, power, philanthropy and associated controversies, before asking you whether they are good, bad, or just another billionaire.
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 Amazon boss Jeff Bezos came to launch one of the biggest corporations of the internet age? And how six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan made his fortune with Nike? 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 Alibaba, 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 of comment to be read out, please say that in your email or message, or mark it confidential.
Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com 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 to download
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Diane Hendricks: Building a fortune
Last Monday
From teen mom to roofing mogul: how Diane Hendricks built a $22 billion empire
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John Fredriksen: Tanker king
Mon 20 Oct 2025
Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen owned the world’s largest fleet of oil tankers
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Evan Spiegel: Snapchat fratboy
Mon 13 Oct 2025
How disappearing messages app Snapchat made Evan Spiegel a billionaire at 25
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Tatyana Kim: Russia’s online retail queen
Mon 6 Oct 2025
How Tatyana Kim went from English teacher to head of Russian’s largest online retailer
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Arnold Schwarzenegger: Muscles, movies, money
Mon 6 Oct 2025
Arnold Schwarzenegger, from Mr Universe to cinematic superstar and billionaire investor
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Coming soon: More tales of the mega-rich
Fri 19 Sep 2025
The latest batch of billionaires includes film stars, tech bros and online retail giants
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Encore - Film Stories: George Lucas and Peter Jackson
Mon 8 Sep 2025
How film directors George Lucas and Peter Jackson went from zero to a billion
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The dead billionaires: What do you think?
Wed 27 Aug 2025
Your verdicts on Rockefeller, Ford, Hughes, Walton and Green
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Hetty Green: The 'witch' of Wall Street
Mon 28 Jul 2025
Hetty Green was America’s richest woman, but was renowned as the nation’s biggest miser
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Sam Walton: Walmart’s founder
Mon 21 Jul 2025
Sam Walton’s discount store Walmart is the largest retailer on Earth
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Howard Hughes: Eccentric aviator
Mon 14 Jul 2025
The original weird billionaire, Howard Hughes went from playboy to paranoid recluse
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Henry Ford: Putting the world on wheels
Mon 7 Jul 2025
Henry Ford revolutionised American life by making mass-produced cars affordable to all
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John D Rockefeller: The first billionaire
Mon 7 Jul 2025
John D Rockefeller believed God wanted him to get rich – so he obliged
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Coming soon: Good Bad Dead Billionaire
Mon 23 Jun 2025
A new season with a difference: Famous dead billionaires and how they made their money
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Eike Batista: Golden grifter
Mon 26 May 2025
Mining magnate Eike Batista was Brazil’s richest man, but corruption led to his downfall
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LeBron James: King of the court
Mon 19 May 2025
LeBron James is the first active NBA basketball player to become a billionaire
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Masayoshi Son: High-tech gambler
Mon 12 May 2025
Investor Masayoshi Son became notorious for making huge bets on technology companies
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Strive Masiyiwa: Connecting a continent
Mon 5 May 2025
Telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa escaped kidnap to become Zimbabwe’s first billionaire
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Ike Perlmutter: Marvel’s empire builder
Mon 28 Apr 2025
Ike Perlmutter, the CEO who reinvented Marvel
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Selena Gomez: Actress, singer, beauty mogul
Mon 21 Apr 2025
How Disney star Selena Gomez became a billionaire beauty entrepreneur
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Orlando Bravo: Tech dealmaker
Mon 14 Apr 2025
Orlando Bravo failed to become a tennis pro, but private equity made him a billionaire
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Vince McMahon: Wrestling's ringmaster
Mon 7 Apr 2025
Vince McMahon turned professional wrestling into a global phenomenon
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Markus Persson: Minecraft maker
Mon 31 Mar 2025
How did Markus Persson create Minecraft, the most successful computer game ever?
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John de Mol: Big Brother’s daddy
Mon 31 Mar 2025
By reinventing reality TV, John de Mol made television history and a billion dollars
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Sir James Dyson: Sucking up the cash
Mon 24 Mar 2025
How a blocked vacuum cleaner led to a billion-dollar idea for inventor James Dyson
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Martha Stewart: The original lifestyle influencer
Mon 17 Mar 2025
Martha Stewart, the homemaker who sold perfection to America
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Encore - Chuck Feeney: All duty
Mon 17 Feb 2025
Revisiting the story of Chuck Feeney, a billionaire who gave it all away
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Encore - Taylor Swift: Swiftonomics
Mon 3 Feb 2025
A brief update after Taylor Swift's Eras tour ended, and another chance to hear her story
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Peter Thiel: Paypal mafioso
Mon 25 Nov 2024
How Peter Thiel made his fortune from huge tech companies then renounced Silicon Valley
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Doris Fisher: Don’t mind The Gap
Mon 18 Nov 2024
How American businesswoman Doris Fisher and her husband founded a clothing empire