The High Performance Podcast

Episode: Boris Becker: Surviving Prison, My Truth & Rebuilding Life (E371)
Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes
Guest: Boris Becker

Episode Overview

In this powerful and candid conversation, legendary tennis champion Boris Becker discusses his meteoric rise to global fame, his very public fall—including his imprisonment—and how he’s rebuilding his life. Becker reflects on surviving 230 days in prison, the misconceptions about his conviction, the lessons of stoicism, personal accountability, and the relationships that helped him endure his darkest moments. This episode is as much a deep dive into the cost of early success and fame as it is a meditation on resilience, personal growth, and finding meaning in adversity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Decision to Tell His Story (02:28–06:55)

• Why write the book? Becker wanted to tell his own story after years of being misrepresented, offering the truth for his children, future athletes, and the public.
• Addressing media “BS”: "There was so much BS written for such a long time... I had the urge to really tell everyone that's what happened." — Boris Becker (03:06)
• Importance of personal truth: "If you decide to do a book, I think it's fundamental that you speak your truth." — Boris Becker (04:14)

2. Misconceptions About His Conviction (15:31–22:42)

• Clarifying his bankruptcy and conviction:
  • Becker corrects the hosts on the details of his case.
  • He was declared insolvent in the UK over a €3.5m loan with high interest—but ultimately repaid the bank.
  • Four out of 29 charges stuck, mainly for administrative issues—using a company account as advised, not declaring a house/mortgage promptly, and not properly reporting shareholdings.
  • "Those were the four counts of what was found guilty for. I'm not telling you whether I liked it or not... That's exactly what happened to me." — Boris Becker (21:02)
• On fame as a double-edged sword: “I'm a huge fish for the prosecution... If they’re going to get Boris Becker, they're going to get anybody.” — Boris Becker (22:46)

3. Coping with Adversity: The Courtroom to Prison (07:15–11:10, 44:25–66:00)

• Sentencing and entering prison: Intense fear, confusion, and the brutality of immediate separation from loved ones.
  • “How do you pack if you don’t know whether you come home at night?” — Boris Becker (07:15)
  • “You’re no longer Boris Becker. You’re a number.” (49:49)
• First moments: Institutional dehumanization, fear, the screaming on the first night, and the immediacy of survival.
  • “It's the screaming that cuts you deepest on your first night in prison.” — Host reading from Becker’s book (49:02)
  • “Whoever says prison is easy is lying. You know, it's supposed to be punishment, supposed to be difficult—it is really difficult, right?” — Boris Becker (52:07)
• Daily life: Adapting to prison routines, hunger, getting a job as an English and math teacher, and the crucial role of “listeners”—trusted long-term inmates who orient newcomers.
  • “I wouldn’t have survived it without them.” — Boris Becker (58:31)

4. Prison Danger, Survival, and Mental Strategies (54:24–68:55)

• The ever-present threat: Describes an incident where a fellow inmate threatened his life and how the social hierarchies and alliances in prison are critical for survival.
  • “He’s about to hurt me. He’s about to hurt me.” — Becker on the confrontation with Zach (84:33)
• Drugs and lawlessness: "Whatever you want, you get in prison... If you pay enough money, you get almost what you want." (66:59)
• Survival techniques: Humility, teaching, befriending power inmates, and relying on mutual respect.
  • “If they respect you, you’re safe. If they don’t respect you, they take advantage. So I was trying to be with the tough boys... Prison is all about respect.” (63:51)
• The importance of acceptance and stoicism: "The main thing here is acceptance. So the judge is right and I'm wrong... That's the only way to deal with it." (24:47)

5. Stoicism and Personal Transformation (89:25–97:08)

• Introduction to stoicism: Lessons from Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus; learning to control only one’s own thoughts.
  • “In prison, you're so much alone... you better make that space inside your head beautiful, because otherwise it will eat you up alive.” (91:26)
• Becker becomes a practitioner and teacher of stoicism, helping others and finding his own path back.
  • “My mind saved me. My mind is saving me now... I learned to appreciate time again.” (95:36)

6. The Human Side of Imprisonment (13:09–15:22, 100:39–101:18)

• The pain of seeing his family suffer, especially his children’s mental health.
  • “As the son, you want to protect your mom. As the dad, you want to protect your son…you were sort of the reason they were feeling like this.” — Host (14:28)
• The unexpected gestures of support—calls from colleagues, public praise from Novak Djokovic, visits attempted by Jürgen Klopp.
  • "Novak was the defending champion... he was really praising me... For him to help me overcoming a very difficult situation, I will never forget." (99:08)
  • “95% [of friends] melted away.” — Boris Becker (100:42–100:45)

7. Fame, Money, and Loss (27:20–34:34)

• Fame’s cost and the myth of massive wealth:
  • Prize money in the '80s/90s was small compared with today; taxes and expenses consumed much of it.
  • Poor business decisions, bad advice, and sustaining high expenses led to cash-flow crises.
• Loss: Becker lost all his assets and started from zero after prison.

8. Advice to Athletes and the Next Generation (34:22–37:05)

• Caution about the dangers of too-early fame and success.
  • "It’s not healthy winning Wimbledon at 17. In hindsight, I’d rather would have won later, maybe more often." (35:53)
• Choose friends and advisers wisely; beware that fame attracts opportunists.
  • "Pick your friends wisely, of course… Most of the people don’t have my best interest at heart." (31:01)

9. Relationships and Redemption (107:41–114:19)

• Love as redemption: The role of Becker’s partner, Lillian, who stood by him despite adversity.
  • “Without her, I wouldn’t have survived it the way I did again. Maybe I had to go through all the shit … to meet this angel.” (110:49)
  • "I hate to say this, but she is clearly the only boss I have in my life." (111:45)
• Family focus after release—plans to spend more time present for his children.

10. Rebuilding and the Road Ahead (115:09–117:30)

• Becker is rebuilding from scratch, working hard, and embracing a simpler, more intentional life.
  • “I started from scratch two and a half years ago. So I have to work my butt off. But… we’re good again. Happy to live in Milano.” (115:11)
• Yearning to return to Wimbledon, seeking closure ("the last piece of my puzzle"):
  • “If I get back to SW19… then the puzzle would be complete.” (117:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Whoever says prison is easy is lying. You know, it's supposed to be punishment, supposed to be difficult—it is really difficult, right?”
— Boris Becker (52:07)

“If the system wants to get you for whatever reason, the system usually wins. Harsh words, what I'm saying, but I’m giving you the truth.”
— Boris Becker (22:05)

“If you decide to do a book, I think it's fundamental that you speak your truth.”
— Boris Becker (04:14)

“I probably wouldn't have survived prison if I weren't a gifted tennis player... That survival instinct in that fifth set, that survival instinct of coming back at 18, winning, this mindset that some call maniac or crazy—I probably am, but otherwise I wouldn’t have done what I’ve done."
— Boris Becker (65:09)

“I lost everything.”
— Boris Becker (33:19)

"We all very judgmental... In order to survive prison, you can’t think that you're better than anybody else. It’s about acceptance."
— Boris Becker (88:11)

“My mind saved me. My mind is saving me now.”
— Boris Becker (95:36)

“Honesty, accountability and tolerance.” (on the three most important behaviors now)
— Boris Becker (119:04)

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep digging."
— Boris Becker (119:19)

“Take care of your mind and of your thoughts, because that's the only place to live in.”
— Boris Becker (119:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Writing the Book, Telling the Truth (02:28–06:55)
• Sentencing and Misconceptions about Conviction (07:15–22:42)
• Entering and Surviving Prison (44:25–66:00)
• Danger and Incident with Zach (84:31–89:25)
• Discovery and Teaching of Stoicism (89:25–97:08)
• Support from Friends and Novak Djokovic (99:08–101:18)
• Love Story: Lillian’s Loyalty (107:41–114:19)
• Rebuilding Life and Family (115:09–117:30)
• Final Lessons and High-Performance Takeaways (119:04–126:34)

High Performance Lessons

• Acceptance and Accountability: Radical acceptance of life’s outcomes and personal mistakes as a prerequisite for growth and healing.
• Power of Mindset: Stoicism and mental fortitude as tools for surviving crisis and loss of control.
• The Reality of Fame: Early success and public adulation bring hidden dangers—loss of privacy, control, and attracting opportunists.
• Redefinition through Adversity: True high performance is not only about success, but how one responds to and learns from adversity.

Closing Message

Boris Becker’s story is about more than tennis and notoriety; it’s about resilience, candor, and finding the champion within, no matter how low life takes you. As Becker puts it:

“We’re all champions. We just gotta find that champion mentality of what makes me better, what makes me more successful in whatever way that is… Tennis was just a tool for me. So we all have that inside of us. Everyone has something really special.” (126:34)

For listeners who haven’t tuned in, this episode is a profound exploration of courage, acceptance, and the rebuilding of a life from the ashes.