Podcast
Good Bad Billionaire
Hosted by BBC World Service · EN
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
74episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Hetty Green: The 'witch' of Wall Street
Aug 4, 202500:47:50Summary readyHetty Green was America’s richest woman, but was renowned as the nation’s biggest miser. But she built her investment fortune in an era before women could even vote.Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack tell the forgotten story of a woman guided by Quakerism who loaned money to New York City when it was in financial peril. She also pioneered the concept of ‘value investment’, decades before the theory was taught in economics classes.In this special series, Good Bad Dead Billionaire, find out how five of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. These iconic pioneers who helped shape America may be long gone, but their fingerprints are all over modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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Sam Walton: Walmart’s founder
Jul 28, 202500:44:29Summary readySam Walton put discount megastores on the map and built the largest retailer on Earth. He founded Walmart, which now has around 10,500 stores across 19 countries, and 255 million customers a week, thanks to their low prices. They also employ more than two million workers.BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explore Sam’s penchant for piloting his small plane to drop in, unannounced, on his stores around the USA, and discover why he danced the Hula on Wall Street, covered in leis and wearing a Hawaiian shirt. In this special series, Good Bad Dead Billionaire, find out how five of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. These iconic pioneers who helped shape America may be long gone, but their fingerprints are all over modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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Howard Hughes: Eccentric aviator
Jul 21, 202500:45:27Summary readyThe original weird billionaire, Howard Hughes was a filmmaker, a playboy and a world record-breaking aviator. He was also an obsessive germophobe who died a paranoid recluse.Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack tell the story of one of the strangest billionaires in history. A wealthy child who was orphaned young, he dallied in different businesses but still became the richest man in America.In this special series, Good Bad Dead Billionaire, find out how five of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. These iconic pioneers who helped shape America may be long gone, but their fingerprints are all over modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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Henry Ford: Putting the world on wheels
Jul 14, 202500:52:02Summary readyHenry Ford may not have invented the car, or even the assembly line, but he perfected them. His Model T – nicknamed “Tin Lizzie” – made cars affordable for the average worker, not just the rich. He was a master tinkerer, inventor and even introduced the five-day 40-hour work week – better than the six-day grind that was the norm at the time. But his legacy is a complicated one. He increased wages but crushed unions. Plus he used his popularity to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. In 1938, Germany’s Nazi regime even gave him a medal for it. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell the story of the man whose influence helped push America from farm to factory, shaping roads, suburbs, motels, and malls. In this special series, Good Bad Dead Billionaire, find out how five of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. These iconic pioneers, who helped shape America, may be long gone, but their fingerprints are all over modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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John D Rockefeller: The first billionaire
Jul 7, 202500:47:12Summary readyJohn D Rockefeller built his fortune refining oil and founding Standard Oil. A pioneer of the U.S. business trust, he helped shape the structure of the modern corporation. His influence lives on in companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, and in institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation. But not everyone saw him as a visionary. President Theodore Roosevelt branded the Rockefeller family a “malefactor of great wealth,” and Rockefeller’s monopoly helped spark America’s first antitrust laws. To some, he was a ruthless robber baron; to others, a generous philanthropist who gave away over $500 million. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng unpack the contradictions of Rockefeller’s empire. Can great giving make up for great power?In this special series, Good Bad Dead Billionaire, find out how five of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. These iconic pioneers who helped shape America may be long gone, but their fingerprints are all over modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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Coming soon: Good Bad Dead Billionaire
Jun 23, 202500:01:58Summary readyWe’re back – but with a difference! Find out how some of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. Meet five billionaires who helped build the United States of America. First up: oil tycoon John D Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire. Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng also revisit the lives of motor magnate Henry Ford, the aviator and filmmaker Howard Hughes, Walmart founder Sam Walton, and Hetty Green - once dubbed “The Witch of Wall Street”. These iconic billionaires may be dead, but their fingerprints are everywhere in modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions? Season 4 of Good Bad Billionaire starts on Monday 7 July 2025. And this season, we really want to know what you think - are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.co.uk or send a voice message or text to 001 917 686 1176. Don’t forget to leave your name. We might read your comments out.
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Eike Batista: Golden grifter
Jun 2, 202500:40:12Summary readyMining magnate Eike Batista was once Brazil’s richest person, but corruption led to his downfall. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng lift the lid on a flashy and eccentric former billionaire who started out in gold mining. Batista then oversaw huge oil, gas and logistics projects but, after his investments crashed, the authorities ordered his arrest. The podcast that tells tales of titans of technology, Wall Street moguls, pop stars, sporting legends, CEOs and entrepreneurs discusses how Batista built the world’s seventh biggest personal fortune while becoming a celebrity playboy in Brazil. Then Simon and Zing decide if he is good, bad, or just another billionaire.
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LeBron James: King of the court
May 26, 202500:48:18Summary readyLeBron James was selling out basketball arenas while still in high school. At just 18, he said he was offered a $10 million cheque from Reebok - on the spot - if he agreed not to meet any other brands. It was a life-changing sum for a teenager living with his mum in the projects. But LeBron turned it down. He was willing to hedge his bets. He’s won four NBA championships, four Most Valuable Player titles, three Olympic golds, and scored more points than anyone in league history. Yet, as BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng reveal, most of his fortune hasn’t come from basketball. With a lifetime deal from Nike, plus investments, endorsements, and savvy business moves, LeBron has built an empire way beyond the court, becoming one of sport’s richest ever people.Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
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Masayoshi Son: High-tech gambler
May 19, 202500:44:47Summary readyInvestor Masayoshi Son became notorious for making huge bets on technology companies. He once lost 96% of his fortune, but he’s still a billionaire thanks to successes like Yahoo! and Alibaba. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell the tale of the billionaire who founded the conglomerate SoftBank and was once, very briefly, the richest person in the world. As the child of Korean immigrants in Japan, Son’s childhood took in sharing a home with pigs, an obsession with the businessman who brought McDonald’s to Japan, and a move to study in the USA aged 16. The podcast that tells tales of titans of technology, Wall Street moguls, pop stars, sporting legends, CEOs and entrepreneurs also explain how Son overcame a diagnosis that meant he was once given just two years to live. Then Simon and Zing decide if Son is good, bad, or just another billionaire.
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Strive Masiyiwa: Connecting a continent
May 12, 202500:42:00Summary readyTelecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa escaped kidnap to become Zimbabwe’s first billionaire.BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell Masiyiwa’s story from a youth fleeing post-colonial conflict, through education in the UK, to enormous wealth delivering mobile phone and internet technology across Africa.The podcast that tells tales of titans of technology, Wall Street moguls, pop stars, sporting legends, CEOs and entrepreneurs also details Masiyiwa’s many court battles and run-ins with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. Then Simon and Zing decide if Masiyiwa is good, bad, or just another billionaire.
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