Think like a billionaire: part 2

Summary

Today in Focus: "Think Like a Billionaire" – Part 2

The Guardian | Host: Helen Pitt | June 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

Main Theme:
In the conclusion of a two-part investigation, Guardian reporters Olivia Leigh and Juliet Garside follow the financial trail of entrepreneur Julie Meyer MBE, dissecting allegations of lost investments, broken promises, and the devastating impact on startups and individuals who trusted her with their businesses and their money. Through personal testimonies and a dramatic on-the-ground search in Zurich, the episode explores the allure and consequences of entrepreneurial charisma gone awry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Stefan Lismond Story: Entrepreneurial Hopes Dashed

[03:07 – 08:23]

• Introduction to Stefan Lismond:
  Founder of Barcelona Gin, lured into Meyer's orbit for investment opportunities during a 2023 folk festival in Spain.
• The Seminar Trap:
  Meyer pitches access to investors via a pricey seminar – Stefan negotiates to provide gin/music in lieu of the full fee.
• Promises Made:
  Meyer convinces Stefan she's well-networked and can deliver big investors:
  • “She comes up with names. Oh, I’m in contact with Dr. Oetker... This would be the ideal investor.” (Stefan Lismond, 05:00)
• Investment Turns to Confusion:
  An investor claims to wire €25,000 to Julie's company, but the money remains in limbo with constant delays.
• Discovery and Regret:
  Stefan, after months of non-responsiveness, Googles Julie Meyer and uncovers lawsuits, unpaid bills, revoked honours, and a string of failed companies.
• Personal Toll:
  “I feel robbed in plain daylight. How can you hurt people in that way? How can you be so cold?” (Stefan Lismond, 07:57)
  Stefan never receives the investment and continues to struggle financially and emotionally.

2. Simon Davies: From Innovation to Legal Limbo

[09:20 – 15:32]

• Background:
  Simon Davies, CEO of Scarabtech (converts waste plastic to diesel), previously admired Meyer from her early years running First Tuesday.
• Rekindled Association:
  Julie mentors Simon and offers to become lead investor for a vital funding round, boosting his business’s credibility.
• Red Flags Ignored:
  Davies checks some of Meyer’s negative press but rationalizes it as normal for high-fliers:
  • “Everyone has litigation... these are the kinds of things you might expect.” (Simon Davies, 11:50)
• Money in Motion:
  $200,000 is sent by Simon’s investors to a Swiss law firm for Julie Meyer to lead a total $900,000 round.
• Sudden Reversal:
  Meyer claims the raise failed due to problems on Simon’s side, then invoices $200,000 in supposed fees, withholding the entire sum.
• Aftermath:
  “My heart sank. I was like, oh, you’ve got to be kidding me... The worst thing that could possibly happen is actually the thing that happens.” (Simon Davies, 13:37)
  Simon’s relationships with investors are damaged, and his business teeters on bankruptcy.

3. Julie Meyer’s Image vs. Reality

[08:23 – 15:32]

• Online Persona:
  Meyer’s LinkedIn and events maintain an aura of success, masking years of legal battles, financial insolvency, and broken affiliations (including revocation of her MBE and honorary degree).
• Public Perception:
  The podcast exposes a pattern—Meyer’s status, charm, and persistence create a cycle of hope and loss among entrepreneurs.

4. Confrontation in Zurich: The Search for Answers

[17:16 – 22:52]

• Reporting From the Field:
  Olivia Leigh and Juliet Garside travel to Zurich in early 2025, hoping for a sit-down interview.
• Stakeout & Encounter:
  After hours of waiting in wintry streets, they spot Meyer — resplendent and oddly disguised, but unmistakable:
  • “She was wearing a leopard print jacket and a fur hat... black sparkly trousers... wheeling along a shopping trolley.” (Olivia Leigh, 19:48)
• Denial & Deflection:
  Asked directly about missing funds and her revoked MBE, Meyer repeatedly denies her identity:
  • “No, I am not. I’m doing some shopping here... Please get out of my way.” (Julie Meyer, 20:19)
• Accusations Escalate:
  Meyer threatens to call police, insists reporters’ actions are criminal, then leaves in a state of shock and agitation.
• Reporters’ Reaction:
  The team reflects on Meyer’s emotional state:
  • “She looked really troubled to me... a shadow of her former self.” (Juliet Garside & Olivia Leigh, 22:41–22:47)

5. Final Reflections: The Wake of Broken Dreams

[22:52 – End]

• No Closure, Ongoing Risk:
  Despite public exposure, Meyer continues to advertise events and present herself as a solution for startups.
• Warning to Listeners:
  • “She’s still out there presenting herself as the answer to entrepreneurs’ prayers…If you go along, ask her about everything you’ve heard in this podcast and think very carefully before giving her any of your money.” (Narrator, 24:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I feel robbed in plain daylight. How can you hurt people in that way? How can you be so cold?”
  • Stefan Lismond, 07:57
• “You have to be a psychopath to talk to me in the way she’s talking... But knowing that none of it means anything and she’s really taking the money... Then you’re a stone cold. I don’t think she’s quite that stone cold.”
  • Simon Davies, 15:06
• “No, I’m not [Julie Meyer]. I’m just doing some shopping here. Please get out of my way.”
  • Julie Meyer, 20:19
• “She looked exhausted... a shadow of her former self.”
  • Juliet Garside & Olivia Leigh, 22:41 – 22:47

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Start of Stefan Lismond story: 03:07
• Revelation of Meyer’s background: 06:10
• Simon Davies involvement begins: 09:20
• Simon's money disappears: 13:03
• Encounter in Zurich: 19:42
• Denials and reporter confrontation: 20:17 – 21:49
• Host’s closing reflection & warning: 24:10

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Tone & Language

The episode blends empathetic interviews with a quietly persistent investigative tone. The voices of those affected range from hopeful and earnest to disappointed and angry. The investigative reporters remain measured yet determined, giving space to both emotional testimony and unvarnished facts.

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Conclusion

This episode stands as a cautionary tale about the allure of apparent entrepreneurial success and the danger of charismatic figures who capitalize on hope and trust. Through first-hand accounts and a tense in-person confrontation, the story compels listeners to examine credentials, question grand promises, and to "think very carefully" before investing faith (and money) in persuasive business figures whose pasts don’t withstand scrutiny.

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For more, read Olivia and Juliet’s feature at theguardian.com.

Transcript

[Helen Pitt]

This is the Guardian.

[Narrator/Host]

Today. Think Like a Billionaire. Part two.

[Helen Pitt]

Today in Focus is supported by Paramount plus the agency. All episodes streaming June 21st on Paramount. In the world of espionage, truth is a moving target. And every decision carries a dangerous consequence. This new mission explores what it means to live as a double agent. Twice the lies, twice the risk. The lines between ally and enemy blur like never before. And survival depends on trusting no one. Starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner Smith and Richard Gere. Don't miss the Agency. All episode streaming June 21st on Paramount Plus.

[Narrator/Host]

Before we get started, this is the second episode in a two part series, so make sure you've listened to part one first.

[Olivia Leigh]

Oh, my God. This is it, I think. Yeah. Because we've seen this on Google Maps. This entrance, apparently it's got her name on it, so we're just checking. Oh, here we go. Julia Maria Meyer.

[Narrator/Host]

Guardian reporters Olivia Leigh and Juliette Garside are in Zurich. It's cold. It's just January. They're outside the apartment of Julie Meyer.

[Juliet Garside]

Top floor looks like. I mean, if you go by the buzzers, it looks like it's on the top floor.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah. This is a very nice place to live.

[Narrator/Host]

They're having to whisper because they don't want Julie to hear them go.

[Olivia Leigh]

She could appear any moment. Kind of have to keep our heads down a little bit.

[Sponsor/Advertiser Voice]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

For the past 18 months, Olivia and Juliet have been digging into Julie Meyer. They followed a trail of missing money and businesses plunged into crisis by broken promises. The people who say Julia went off with their money want answers. And so Olivia and Juliet are in Zurich to get them.

[Olivia Leigh]

Oh, my God. That could be her.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, it's a blonde person.

[Juliet Garside]

It is a blonde person.

[Olivia Leigh]

I'm feeling really nervous. I can feel my heart beating. This is our one moment. I really hope it's her.

[Narrator/Host]

Will Julie Meyer finally give her side of the story? From the Guardian, I'm Helen Pitt. Today in focus, Think Like a Billionaire, Part 2. It's 2023 and Barcelona Gin founder Stefan Lismond is celebrating a folk festival in his local village. He's outside enjoying the sunshine, having a drink with a close friend.

[Stefan Lismond]

This guy suddenly told me, listen, I have a very good idea for you. If you're looking for investment for your company, I know this woman who's organizing a big seminar.

[Narrator/Host]

And Steffen gets introduced to Julie Meyer MBE.

[Stefan Lismond]

She said, I've been looking what you've been doing, and I really think you should join our program and join our seminar.

[Narrator/Host]

Steffen says he's told the seminar is all about meeting investors. It'll cost him thousands of euros. But his is a small company and that is a lot of money. So he comes up with an ide. He'll serve his gin at the seminar's opening party and bring his band with him instead of paying the full fee.

[Stefan Lismond]

It was a really big success. Big applause, everybody. A really big impact. And I must say, the same night already, somebody came up to me and he said, listen, I am an investor. He wanted to shake my hand and he said, I want to invest in your company.

[Narrator/Host]

And how did it feel for you when you saw these people enjoying your gin?

[Stefan Lismond]

Very exciting. That kind of feedback is everything for me. I always say, it's my baby, you know, it's like, it's very personal when you create something new, when you start a business of your own, it's part of your life. And the same night also Julie said, stefan, this looks very good. This is going to be a success. I'm going to get your money.

[Narrator/Host]

Stefan says that a few days later, Julie comes to him with an offer. Let me help you get investment.

[Stefan Lismond]

She says, for a fee, €5,000amonth. She was very enthusiastic about, okay, this is going to work. You know, she was convinced and she told me, literally, she was convinced.

[Narrator/Host]

This kind of investment is a huge risk for Stefan. But he says Julie's enthusiasm persuades him it's worth it. They start working on his business plan, tweaking the company's projections. According to Stefan, Julie spends the whole time promising him that she'll land a big investor.

[Stefan Lismond]

She comes up with names. Oh, I'm in contact with Dr. Oetker. You know this big company in Germany, Frozen Pizza company.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Stefan Lismond]

She says, like, this would be the ideal investor in your company. It's going to be hard to get him in, but we're going to work on it. We're going to do it, Stefan.

[Narrator/Host]

And did she make you believe that together, yes, you could do it?

[Stefan Lismond]

There was no reason to doubt.

[Narrator/Host]

Then he says he gets a phone

[Stefan Lismond]

call from this guy who he was at the seminar and he said, listen, Stefan, I've been talking to Julie and I decided I want to invest in your company. So that was very exciting moment, you know, like, finally, okay, there is somebody who really wants to invest.

[Narrator/Host]

The investor tells Stefan they've sent €25,000 to Julie's company. But according to Stefan, Julie says the money isn't ready yet.

[Stefan Lismond]

The contracts need to be written out. Well, the due diligence. He's still arranging paper, so he waits every two weeks or every 10 days, an email from me claiming for him. Can we have more explanation?

[Narrator/Host]

And he waits.

[Stefan Lismond]

25,000. It's not near to the budget, you know, we agreed we were looking for half a million euro budget. This is a first step.

[Narrator/Host]

And then Stefan tells me Julie stops responding to him. So Stefan tells me he does what he probably should have done the first time he met Julie Meyer. He Googles her. What he finds shocks him. Stories of Julie not paying her staff, her businesses going into administration, money disappearing, huge sums owed to everyone from banks to cab companies and caterers. Julie had also been sued by Faris and Company, the royal family's solicitors, trying to claw back nearly 200,000 pounds in unpaid legal fees. She'd repeatedly failed to attend court hearings or submit required documents and was later found in contempt of court court with the judge branding her selfish and untrustworthy. Warwick University removed her honorary doctorate too. Yet incredibly, none of this seemed to have stopped her. Stefan, in his desperation for the money, had been sucked in by Julie's charm and enthusiasm. He'd spent thousands chasing that dream investment.

[Stefan Lismond]

That's very hard for us because we are a really small company and every penny counts. We can't lose money. Not only that, we lose that money also, but it's also mentally very hard.

[Narrator/Host]

Stefan never sees the €25,000 investment. It just disappears. And how much did this whole experience impact your business?

[Stefan Lismond]

I would say very badly, in the sense that up till today, I'm still looking for investment. People with money don't think about you, they only think about their money. And they can say yes today and they can say no tomorrow. It depends how they wake up.

[Narrator/Host]

And how do you feel about Julie now?

[Stefan Lismond]

Honestly, I hate her. I'm sorry to say this, but I really feel robbed, you know? Can you imagine? Somebody robs your house and you come back and you open the door? What you feel at that moment, that's what I feel, you know, I feel robbed in plain daylight. How can you hurt people in that way? How can you be so cold?

[Narrator/Host]

Julie's MBE, her reputation, her charm, all of it made people believe a simple story. That Julie Meyer could turn your business into the next billion dollar company. If you looked on her LinkedIn, you wouldn't know about the court cases she'd lost, the bad press you'd see her traveling Europe. Rooms full of investors excite exciting businesses. So many people like Stefan got sucked into that image. Julie Meyer MBE, the entrepreneur's friend.

[Olivia Leigh]

So I've just woken up to an Email from an individual.

[Narrator/Host]

But the money at play was about to get even bigger. And someone was about to get on her tail.

[Olivia Leigh]

Wow, that's a lot of money.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

It's 2025 and Julie is living in Zurich in Switzerland. She's running an investment firm called Viva Investment Partners. But a lot of her time is still spent organizing events that she's hosting around three to four times a year.

[Simon Davies]

I said this to people at the time. I said, that is one of the best conferences. Like, it was excellent.

[Narrator/Host]

One of the attendees was Simon Davies. He is the CEO of scarabtech, a company that turns waste plastic into diesel. You might remember from episode one that Simon first encountered Julie when she was running First Tuesday. And in January last year, he was invited to be a speaker for her.

[Simon Davies]

I was very excited. I was like, oh, look, it's come full circle. It's like, I'm no longer at the crowd. Look at you this. It's a bit like, you know, 20 years later, you're invited to go talk at Julie Mayer's event.

[Listener/Commentator]

Excellent.

[Simon Davies]

Yeah, that was fun.

[Narrator/Host]

And so, Olivia, how and when did they start working together, Simon and Julie?

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Simon goes to Zurich from Johannesburg. He has a really good time at this event. He said Julie's just as he remembered in the early days, you know, a great speaker, great moderator.

[Simon Davies]

It was really well put together. I mean, there was lots of people that we were super interested to talk to. So that all went perfectly.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Julie tells him, you know, I really like your business. It's great, and I want to raise money for you. So he tells me they get quite close over the next few months.

[Simon Davies]

I would be on calls with Julie at two in the morning many nights. I think she really liked the business. I think she really liked the idea. She made you feel like you were doing it together.

[Narrator/Host]

And what's she doing for him? Is she sort of acting as a kind of broker between potential investors and his company?

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Exactly. So they agree that she will be the lead investor for the next funding round for his company.

[Simon Davies]

It's like a vote of confidence. She did Skype. She did First Tuesdays. She's got an MBE. Everyone's like, that's a cool lead investor.

[Stefan Lismond]

Here's the money.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

So Simon tells his existing shareholders that Julie Meyer is going to be the lead investor for our next round of investments. So with a new investor added, they end up sending about $200,000, believing that the money will then go to Simon and his company.

[Simon Davies]

That part of it was very quick. I mean, I raised $200,000 in four days. Julie was very happy. All the money was sent to the law firm in Switzerland that was doing the deal.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

And then Julie will raise the rest. In total, she wants to raise about 900,000 for Simon. That's the agreement.

[Narrator/Host]

Simon was going to use any money raised to expand the production of his portable machines. And the aim was to put them in small South African villages to help them produce fuel. And at this point, did he know anything about Tooley's bad press?

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

So, interestingly, he did come across the bad press. He actually discussed it with these investors and they disregarded it.

[Simon Davies]

They was like, well, you don't know the details of all these cases. Everyone has litigation. And if you're operating at what we considered duly, you know, these are sort of the kinds of things that you might expect to find.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Another thing he said was that you also think about the surroundings you're in. You know, you're at a fancy ski resort, you're surrounded by really high quality people, you know that Julie's invited to these summits. And he's like, what's not to believe? You know, this seems like a credible person.

[Narrator/Host]

But Julie keeps pushing back the deadline for the round to close, all the while telling Simon that she's getting the money. At one point, she says she's raised $750,000.

[Simon Davies]

It all felt like it had, like, momentum and it's getting better and better.

[Narrator/Host]

And then, of course, Julie pulls out. In a letter, Julie says that the investment round has failed, claiming that there are incomplete financial documents, problems with advisors to Skyrim Tech, among other things.

[Julie Meyer]

I.

[Narrator/Host]

All of which means she won't be investing in Simon's company anymore.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

I think Simon at that point is very unclear over what's happened. So he contacts Julie and he asks for the investor's money to be returned.

[Narrator/Host]

So this was the 200,000 that he had independently managed to raise.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Simon Davies]

I was disappointed on the run, but at least that's not the worst case scenario of what happened to the money. And that seems to be okay.

[Narrator/Host]

Simon waits for the investors to get their money returned. But then Julie sends him an Invoice for around $200,000 in success fees, corporate infrastructure fees, and management fees. The thing is, Simon says he never agreed to pay for any of these services. He thinks the money should have been returned to his investors. It was their money. But he says Julie had walked off with it. The money was gone.

[Simon Davies]

My heart sank. I was like, oh, you've got to be kidding me. I still had some outside hope that maybe she made an Error. But no, there was no error. And the worst thing that could possibly happen is actually the thing that happens.

[Narrator/Host]

And what happens with the money then

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

it essentially goes missing. Simon gets no money. The investors don't get their money back, so they don't know where it went.

[Simon Davies]

This is the last time she wrote to me, Simon, against my doctor's orders, as I'm in the hospital right now. I'm writing to you as I want you to understand my firm's position on the actions you have been taking, which are very disappointing. You will be held accountable for the damage that you do. We will act swiftly and unequivocally to protect our position. I hope you choose your actions very carefully. I regret very much that I tried to help you and your firm. This has been a huge disappointment to me and my team. That was the last message from Julie. When she's involved with your company, she's involved with your company. That wasn't fake. It was true. That's why I find it so hard to reconcile.

[Julie Meyer]

It just.

[Simon Davies]

Just seems entirely, so unnecessary. I mean, that's the part I don't understand. It's like she could totally do this job. I don't know why she just doesn't do that.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

He introduced these investors to Julie. He told them that their money would be safe. This jeopardized his relationship with these shareholders. He said at one point his business was at risk of bankruptcy. But you know, more than anything, Simon wants answers.

[Simon Davies]

It's been a long time since Julie's had a big win with the company, so she works for that. But if it doesn't work, she's got the insurance policy of knowing she can just take the money anyway. You have to be a psychopath to talk to me in the way that she's talking to me. And then. But knowing that none of it means anything and she's really taking the money, like just I. Wow, then you're. Then you're a stone cold. I don't think she's quite that stone cold.

[Narrator/Host]

Later in 2025, Julie Meyer lost the one thing that mattered most to her. Her MBE. Following her contempt of court judgment, it was revoked for, quote, bringing the honours system into disrepute. The amount of investors money people say has disappeared gets bigger. Coming up, we head to Switzerland to get some answers.

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[Olivia Leigh]

I've just woken up. It's about 6:30am I'm in Zurich. I'm just in my hotel room. It's pretty dark outside. You can see one or two commuters, but apart from that there's not a lot of people around.

[Narrator/Host]

It's early January and Olivia has recently arrived in Zurich. She's there with Juliet Garside, the Guardian's European Financial affairs editor. The pair have been working on this story closely from the beginning and they're in the city to speak to Julie Meyer. They know she's here because she's hosting an event in the city and they want to ask her for a sit down interview.

[Olivia Leigh]

I've been thinking about this moment for a really long time. This might just be our one chance. Oh, okay. Yeah, I've got to get ready now.

[Narrator/Host]

They leave their hotel and they head towards Julie's apartment.

[Juliet Garside]

It's cold, 4 degrees outside. You can see a sprinkling of snow in the fields. We're in the old town. We're looking out over the Lynn Mat river and there are swans.

[Olivia Leigh]

Oh gorgeous.

[Juliet Garside]

And there's a kind of pontoon going into the water with Venetian candy striped poles.

[Narrator/Host]

They get to the apartment and wait a few hours.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

At one point there was a woman that left the building and she was smoking a cigarette.

[Olivia Leigh]

Someone that knows Julie told us that she doesn't smoke, so we don't think that was her. We might have to think of plan B now.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

After that we went to her offices. We're like, okay Maybe she left her apartment earlier than we arrived.

[Olivia Leigh]

There's like pictures of her on the wall.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, well, there.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah.

[Juliet Garside]

Picture of her getting her honorary degree.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, I think that's the PhD.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

Just a reminder, Julie had her honorary doctorate removed in 20, 20, 22.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah. So the shutters in the middle room, which is apparently the room in which the event takes place, are now shut.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

And then we decide, okay, look, you know, we've been out for five, six hours walking around in the freezing cold. I think we should just go back to the hotel.

[Juliet Garside]

It's disappointing not to have seen her just now.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, I feel a bit flat to be fair, because I think I had loads of adrenaline this morning. Yeah, I really thought we would see her.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

As we're going back to the hotel, we're like, okay, well there's no harm in kind of walking around, you know, the area of her apartment one last time. So we're just kind of like mindlessly walking kind of through a square. But then we see her.

[Juliet Garside]

Come on, let's do it.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Jeanie Meyer. And it's unmistakably her.

[Olivia Leigh]

It was definitely her.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

She was wearing a leopard print jacket

[Olivia Leigh]

and a fur hat. She looks very glamorous.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

She's got these black sparkly trousers and she's wheeling along a shopping trolley which

[Juliet Garside]

slightly kind of contrasted with the rest of the look.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah, didn't quite all fit together.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I think it was just a few

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

minutes, but it felt like hours.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It really did.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Time moved very slowly.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

She's coming out, she's coming up.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

And then we approach her.

[Juliet Garside]

Excuse me, are you Julie Meyer?

[Julie Meyer]

No, I'm not.

[Juliet Garside]

Hello, we're from the Guardian. This is being recorded, you can see the microphone. We just wanted to ask you about your MBE. It's been revoked. Why is that?

[Julie Meyer]

I'm not, I'm not who you think I am. I'm doing some shopping here. Could you please get out of my way? Thank you.

[Juliet Garside]

We've heard the allegations. A lot of people have of a lot, lot of questions. Unpaid wages, unpaid staff, young people, hopes and dreams. A lot of investor money's gone missing. Money that should have gone to startup companies. Where, where is, where is the money, Julie? Are you going to pay it back?

[Julie Meyer]

Could you please send me your own? I'm not Julie Meyer and I will take you to the police.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Julie, I've spoken to so many people. I spoke to a lot of people. They say they've lost money through you. Julie. Look, can we just get a sit down interview? We want to hear your side of the story. Simon Davies, do you know him? He said you raised 200,000. He was going to use those machines to provide energy to South African villagers. Do you know Simon Davies?

[Juliet Garside]

All that money's disappeared.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

200,000, Julie.

[Juliet Garside]

His investors would like to know where it is.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

He said you took 200,000 of investors funds.

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Is that true?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

You're not going to answer them? You're going to stay silent? Come on, you must have something to say. Mark Lightfoot, do you remember him?

[Juliet Garside]

Okay, we're going to write to you. We can see you don't want to speak now. We're going to write to you and we hope you've got something to say because a lot of people are waiting for answers.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I think we need answers, Julie.

[Julie Meyer]

We're not going to the police station right here. We're taking you. Well, you are going to the police station because you're in Switzerland and what you're doing is criminal. Get that out of my face and go to the police station right now. Go to the police station. Station.

[Juliet Garside]

Thank you very much. We'll be in touch. Okay, so that's it. It's done. It was definitely her. I mean, her voice is unmistakable.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It was definitely her. There was no doubt. There was no doubt. She sounded like her. She looked like her. That was Julie, Ma.

[Juliet Garside]

And I think she was very surprised. Did you?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, she didn't.

[Juliet Garside]

A little spot by the river. Should we sit here?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, we're going to sit here and do a little bit, have a little

[Juliet Garside]

chat and catch our breath.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah. She wasn't shouty. I think she was more shocked, you know?

[Olivia Leigh (Interview)]

Yes, she was more shocked.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I think she didn't actually quite know what to say.

[Juliet Garside]

She looked really troubled to me. Like she looked. She had dark rings under her eyes. She was fully made up. But she looked tired.

[Olivia Leigh]

She looked exhausted. She looked exhausted. I'll get sorry for her in a moment.

[Juliet Garside]

Do you know she looked a bit like a shadow of.

[Olivia Leigh]

Yeah, maybe a shadow of her former self.

[Narrator/Host]

A shadow of her former self. Olivia called Julie, pretending to be someone else in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. When Olivia had that conversation with the businessman in that London Club back in 2024, she had no idea that she would be unraveling it for almost the next two years. And that the story he told her of the luxurious networking event on a Greek island which turned out to be anything but, would be just the first of many stories she would hear about a woman with almost unparalleled audacity. A woman who has shamelessly hopped from one failed endeavour to the next, with no obvious remorse for the devastation she's left in her wake. Insolvent companies, unpaid wages, lingering debts, millions in lost investments. We asked her to explain it all, but she didn't respond. She's still out there presenting herself as the answer to entrepreneurs prayers. She's on link LinkedIn right now advertising her latest events. If you go along, ask her about everything you've heard in this podcast and think very carefully before giving her any of your money. And that's all for this miniseries. I really hope that you enjoyed it. To read Olivia and Juliet's magazine piece, go to theguardian.com Julie Meyer has previously rejected any suggestion that her activities are not above board. My thanks to Olivia and Juliet and also to Rachel Aldroyd, the Guardian's Deputy Investigations editor. Think Like a Billionaire was Produced by George McDonagh and presented by me, Helen Pitt. Sound design was by Tom Glasser and the executive producer was Huma Khalili. We'll be back as normal with Today in focus on Monday,

[Helen Pitt]

This is the Guardian.

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