PBD Podcast Ep. 713 - Who Is TraxNYC?

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Patrick Bet-David (PBD)
Guest: Maksud “Trax” Agadjani (TraxNYC)
Main Theme:
A high-voltage exploration of the recent viral altercation in NYC’s Diamond District, the cutthroat world of jewelry business, the rise of TraxNYC, and the realities of business, culture, trust, and authenticity in the luxury trade.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the explosive story behind the now-infamous confrontation caught on camera between Maksud Agadjani (TraxNYC) and a rival jeweler (“George & Fred”), which went viral with over 73 million views. Beyond the headline drama, Trax shares unfiltered insights into the inner workings of New York’s jewelry exchange, recounts his entrepreneurial journey from immigrant beginnings to $40M+/year sales, and weighs in on trust, business ethics, the influence of culture, and dealing with the challenges of success and public scrutiny in an online era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Viral Diamond District Confrontation

• Background:

  • The feud erupted after a neighboring booth impersonated TraxNYC, selling knockoffs under his name and shortchanging a customer. (05:00–09:44)
  • “I go inside their fucking booth, I give him his $22,000. He spent $21,000. I give him $22,000. I said, you're made whole.” – Trax [08:42]
  • The altercation led to physical confrontations: destroyed property, spitting, attempted strangling with a chain.
  • “He puts his hand on my neck right away after his brother spit on me.“ – Trax [16:41]
  • NYPD involved, charges pressed; the incident was more about public exposure of greed and dishonesty than about the fight itself. (17:19–20:34)

• TraxNYC’s Perspective:

  • Emphasized that trust is the foundation of the jewelry business, and the rivals’ actions are the antithesis of the values that make the district work.
  • Used the viral moment for marketing (“A year’s worth of marketing in a weekend.” – [34:19]) but insists on pursuing restitution; intends to distribute funds to staff and community. [35:25]

2. Life & Survival in the Diamond District

• Insider’s View:
  • The business environment is fierce, often ruthless; survival means having an edge and knowing whom to trust.
  • “The people that made it... are some of the most ruthless people ever in jewelry.” – Trax [25:00]
• Key Profile for Success:
  • Need for edge, adaptability, and not backing down from confrontation.
  • Trax positions himself as a disruptor and authentic voice—someone who made it “doing business the right way.”
  • Greed, lack of integrity, and short-term thinking are recurrent problems; the district’s politics are complex and “always a problem, but... manageable.” [03:52]
• Community Dynamics:
  • Rivalries are common, but so are alliances—especially when it comes to dealing with landlords, rent, and shared spaces. (21:22–22:39)

3. Entrepreneurial Wisdom & Business Evolution

• Trax’s Journey:

  • Immigrant from Azerbaijan, business started in 2004, started on Canal Street, then moved to Diamond District. [25:36]
  • Early mistakes involved trusting wrong people, low profit margins, poor boundaries.
  • Learned strategy from Warren Buffett: Cut loss-making lines, focus on profits, raise prices.
    • “Volume is not business, profit is business.” – Trax [28:18]
  • Deals with haters and old acquaintances who want credit for his success:
    • “It’s an ego trip, man. These people are crazy.” [30:33]

• Brand Power & Social Media:

  • Massive impact of going viral: “I had a hundred million views in 30 days… Now I’m up to like 320 million.” [34:32–34:43]
  • Strong belief in building brand as trust: “Brand is a trust. You know, I trust that when I spend $10 at McDonald's, I’m going to get a burger.” [51:38]

4. The 'Rules' of the Jewelry Business

• Trust Ecosystems:
  • Explains “Jewish code” in the Diamond District—business is built on trust, not paperwork.
  • “Trust enables transaction. That’s what the people in the Middle East and other places in the world need to understand… You can’t get a good deal with a bad person.” [51:38–54:07]
• Who to Trust (and Who Not To):
  • No hard rules by appearance/background; people will always surprise you. [54:05]
  • Red flags: Dishonest, rude, or unclear communicators. If someone can’t clearly explain what they’re selling or avoids direct answers, walk away. [56:29–57:31]

5. Selling, Clients, and Celebrity Tales

• Influence & Clientele:
  • Has worked with top names: Mr. Beast, Pauly D, UFC’s Jon Jones, Busta Rhymes, rap and athletic clientele, and even Donald Trump’s grandson. [42:12–86:12]
  • Notes athletes and businesspeople are best clients; rappers are “the worst for getting paid,” but he still values the culture.
    • “If you’re a rapper and you don’t want to do business… take your money and shove it up your fucking ass." – Trax [43:29]
  • Discusses how luxury works: Sometimes you sell more by raising prices than lowering them.
• Entertaining Stories:
  • Shares behind-the-scenes stories with famous entertainers, including Adam Sandler on Uncut Gems.
  • On making content: “I keep their attention from the first frame... after that one minute, you're a little bit smarter than you were than the minute before. That's... valuetainment.” [82:01–82:42]

6. Philosophy, Identity, & Commentary

• Cultural Identity:
  • Trax discusses his Azerbaijani, Jewish, and Muslim roots, and the effect of being a child of post-Soviet immigrants.
  • “My mother’s Jewish... my dad never told me anything about the religion, but then I found the Quran...” – Trax [31:59–34:08]
• Views on Society and Politics:
  • Blunt commentary on NYC politics, Obama’s presidency, the pitfalls of communism, unsustainable promises in politics, and the “danger” of buying into dreams rather than reality.
    • “Stop buying into bullshit promises and liberal dreams of Kumbaya, okay? That’s my message.” [101:14]
  • America needs to wake up and invest in hard assets—gold and precious metals—as the dollar faces an uncertain future. [97:56–98:45]
• On Wealth and Life:
  • Downplays flashy wealth; rides an electric scooter to work, sees value in “doing it correct,” and says “without the dollar sign, they have nothing.”
  • On giving: “I'm not gonna keep a penny of it. I'm gonna give it to my family, my staff, and the people in New York...” – Trax [35:25]

7. Practical Advice for Buying Jewelry

• For Average Customers:

  • Don’t chase “deals from small vendors”—do business with reputable, established brands.
  • If buying from unknowns, always test gold and demand receipts; prefer personal connections or recommendations.
  • “If you're buying something and you feel like you're getting a deal from a small vendor, you could get it tested ... but there's a reason why there’s brands.” [56:07–58:49]

• Buying Power (10k–1M):

  • For laymen, stick to gold; only buy gems if you truly understand them. [95:12–95:37]
  • “If you're not saving in precious metals, you're not saving, period... this paycheck to paycheck, credit card shit that America’s going through is very tragic.” [97:57]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A year’s worth of marketing in a weekend.” – Trax [34:19]
• “He puts his hand on my neck right away after his brother spit on me.” – Trax [16:41]
• “Volume is not business, profit is business.” – Trax [28:18]
• “You can’t get a good deal with a bad person, forget it.” – Trax [51:38]
• “If you’re a rapper and you don’t want to do business ... take your money and shove it up your fucking ass." – Trax [43:29]
• “Trust enables transaction. That’s what the people in the Middle east and other places in the world need to understand.” – Trax [51:56]
• “Stop buying into bullshit promises and liberal dreams of Kumbaya, okay? That’s my message.” – Trax [101:14]
• [Gift Moment] Trax gifts PBD a heavy 14K gold link—and jokes about how strong it is for self-defense: “But it’s also good to strangle…” (they both laugh) [59:44–59:58]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• The Viral Clip Discussion: 01:04–10:51
• History, Feud, and Diamond District Culture: 10:51–24:23
• Entrepreneurial Lessons, Social Media Impact: 25:00–29:46, 34:08–35:25
• Trust, Jewish “Codes,” and Business Philosophy: 49:17–54:07
• Red Flags: How Not to Get Ripped Off: 54:44–58:49
• Celebrity Buyers, Stories: Mr. Beast, Trump’s Family, Uncut Gems, etc.: 42:09–86:45
• Best/Worst Clients (Rappers, Athletes): 43:29–45:21
• Society, Wealth, Politics, Culture Commentary: 97:56–102:45

Conclusion

TraxNYC bared all in a raw, candid session—explaining the nuts and bolts (and the fights) of NYC’s jewelry world, the ugly side of greed, and the code of conduct that divides winners and losers. For aspiring entrepreneurs, buyers, or anyone fascinated by the intersection of culture, commerce, and personality, this is a must-listen episode, brimming with hard-earned business lessons and unforgettable stories.

“Brand is a trust.” The takeaway is clear: in life and in business, value is built—sometimes in gold, but always on integrity.