Good Bad Billionaire cover art
Podcast · 110 episodes

Good Bad Billionaire

by BBC World Service · English

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 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

Latest episodes

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Prince Alwaleed bin Talal: The billionaire royalPrince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s rise from Saudi royal upbringing to global billionaire investor, framed as “self-made” vs privilege, plus controversies, prestige-building, and limits of his power…28 Sep 2026 · 39 min · 24 chapters
Sheryl Sandberg: Chief operatorSheryl Sandberg’s rise from government and consulting to becoming Facebook/Meta’s chief operating officer, focusing on how she helped monetize Facebook, become a billionaire, and later faced…21 Sep 2026 · 39 min · 15 chapters
Lord Sugar: From entrepreneur to ApprenticeAlan Sugar’s “rags to riches” path from working-class East London to UK billionaire and TV personality, plus how his business style and public persona shaped perceptions of entrepreneurship.14 Sep 2026 · 45 min · 15 chapters
The Batista brothers: Meat and moneyThe Batista brothers (Wesley and Joesley Batista) and how they built JBS, the world’s biggest meat producer, amid rapid expansion, state-backed financing, and major corruption and…3 Aug 2026 · 39 min · 15 chapters
Tao Huabi: Crispy chilli godmotherThe episode profiles Tao Huabi, founder of Lao Gan Ma (“old godmother”) crispy chilli oil, explaining how a rural, illiterate woman from Guizhou became a global billionaire via a distinctive chilli…27 Jul 2026 · 35 min · 15 chapters
Sir Paul McCartney: The rich one - Live at Crossed WiresPaul McCartney’s rise from working-class Liverpool musician to billionaire, focusing on business deals, tax, and especially songwriting/IP royalties.20 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 19 chapters
Reed Hastings: Netflix’s co-founder and media disruptorThis BBC World Service episode profiles Reed Hastings, Netflix’s co-founder, tracing how he built Netflix from a DVD-by-mail startup into the streaming giant that disrupted Blockbuster and reshaped…13 Jul 2026 · 44 min · 21 chapters
Roger Federer: The billion-dollar backhandRoger Federer’s rise from a temper-prone Swiss junior to a $1.1B billionaire, focusing on how his on-court dominance translated into luxury sponsorships, business ownership, and equity gains.6 Jul 2026 · 37 min · 17 chapters
Luana Lopes Lara: Prediction market payoutGood Bad Billionaire profiles Luana Lopez Lara, co-founder of Kalshi (Arabic for “everything”), and explains how prediction markets work in the US—trading on probabilities of real-world events—plus…29 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 25 chapters
MrBeast: The business of going viralHow Jimmy Donaldson (“MrBeast”) built wealth by engineering viral YouTube stunts, then diversified into branded products, philanthropy, and mainstream TV—while facing controversies over safety,…22 Jun 2026 · 46 min · 25 chapters
Cristiano Ronaldo: Football's first billionaire playerCristiano Ronaldo’s rise from poverty to becoming the first football “billionaire,” focusing on how his on-pitch work ethic and global celebrity translated into earnings (salary, endorsements, and…15 Jun 2026 · 44 min · 27 chapters
Steven Spielberg: Directing dreams and dealsSteven Spielberg’s rise from fearful, bullied outsider to Hollywood’s most commercially successful director, focusing on how his negotiating tactics (especially “points” and gross points) turned…8 Jun 2026 · 43 min · 18 chapters
Beyoncé: The business of Queen BThe episode profiles Beyoncé Knowles’ rise from a comfortable Houston childhood to billionaire status, arguing she built wealth through disciplined artistry plus business control.1 Jun 2026 · 45 min · 24 chapters
TrailerThis episode is a trailer for the BBC podcast “Good, Bad Billionaires.” It frames the show as exploring how the wealthiest people became rich, from “zero to their first million” and onward to a…27 May 2026 · 2 min · 1 chapter
The Lee family (from Inheritance: Samsung): Part three1969-1976 succession turmoil in Samsung after B.C. Lee’s 1966 scandal; an anonymous “Blue House” letter listing B.C.29 Apr 2026 · 20 min · 7 chapters
The Lee family (from Inheritance: Samsung): Part twoThe succession crisis after Samsung chairman K.H. Lee’s May 2014 heart attack, and how Samsung’s family control was shaped by earlier political pressure. It also traces founder Lee Byung-chul (B.C.29 Apr 2026 · 26 min · 7 chapters
The Lee family (from Inheritance: Samsung): Part onePart one of BBC World Service’s Inheritance: Samsung, focusing on Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong (J.Y.29 Apr 2026 · 28 min · 12 chapters
Toto Wolff: Mercedes's billion-dollar F1 bossThis podcast explores the lives and fortunes of the world's wealthiest individuals, analyzing their business ethics, philanthropy, and impact on society.9 Mar 2026 · 45 min · 23 chapters
Ronnie Screwvala: The cable guyIn this episode of Good Bad Billionaire, hosts Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng delve into the life and accomplishments of Ronnie Screwvala, a notable billionaire from India who revolutionized the media…2 Mar 2026 · 40 min · 17 chapters
Larry Ellison: Winning the database warsIn this episode, Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng explore the life and career of Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation.23 Feb 2026 · 46 min · 20 chapters
Elizabeth Holmes: From CEO to criminalIn this episode of *Good Bad Billionaire*, hosts Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng examine the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos, who went from being celebrated as a visionary to…16 Feb 2026 · 48 min · 28 chapters
Weekend listening: The InterfaceThe podcast explores how the richest people globally amassed their wealth, examining their motives, money, philanthropy, and ethics.14 Feb 2026 · 35 min · 17 chapters
Peggy Cherng: Engineering a fast-food fortuneIn this episode of "Good Bad Billionaire," hosts Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng delve into the life of Peggy Cherng, co-founder of Panda Express, and explore how her engineering background transformed…9 Feb 2026 · 39 min · 23 chapters
Ben Francis: UK’s youngest billionaireThe podcast explores the lives of the world's wealthiest individuals, analyzing their wealth, motivations, philanthropy, and overall business ethics.2 Feb 2026 · 46 min · 30 chapters