Good Bad Billionaire podcast

Good Bad 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. Latest episodes: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk. In each episode of Good Bad Billionaire, 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 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, 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 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

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. Latest episodes: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk. In each episode of Good Bad Billionaire, 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 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, 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 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

 

#92

Ronnie Screwvala: The cable guy

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02 Mar 2026

39 MINS

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02 Mar 2026


#91

Larry Ellison: Winning the database wars

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23 Feb 2026

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#90

Elizabeth Holmes: From CEO to criminal

Once hailed as the next Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Holmes became the world’s youngest self-made... more

16 Feb 2026

47 MINS

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#89

Weekend listening: The Interface

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14 Feb 2026

34 MINS

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#88

Peggy Cherng: Engineering a fast-food fortune

Peggy Cherng never set out to work in fast food, but her engineering mindset transformed h... more

09 Feb 2026

38 MINS

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#87

Ben Francis: UK’s youngest billionaire

How Ben Francis went from pizza delivery boy to the UK’s youngest billionaire, by founding... more

02 Feb 2026

45 MINS

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#86

Lucy Guo: The woman training AI

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26 Jan 2026

41 MINS

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26 Jan 2026


#85

Elon Musk: You decide!

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23 Jan 2026

16 MINS

16:36

23 Jan 2026


#84

David Geffen: The Hollywood power broker

David Geffen is the money man behind Crosby, Stills and Nash, Guns N' Roses, Cher, Shrek, ... more

19 Jan 2026

47 MINS

47:33

19 Jan 2026


#83

Sara Blakely: Shaping the world with Spanx

Sara Blakely grew up in Florida and dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but after failing the LS... more

12 Jan 2026

42 MINS

42:12

12 Jan 2026


#82

Guy Laliberté: Cirque du Soleil’s clown turned CEO

Guy Laliberté went from busking on the streets of Quebec to entertaining Hollywood celebri... more

05 Jan 2026

41 MINS

41:06

05 Jan 2026


#81

Elon Musk: Money, memes and Mars

Elon Musk’s extraordinary rise, from a troubled childhood in apartheid-era South Africa to... more

08 Dec 2025

55 MINS

55:27

08 Dec 2025