Good Bad Billionaire
BBC World Service
How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? Find out with the Good Bad Billionaire podcast - now with a chance for you to have your say. Make up your minds whether you think they are good, bad or just another billionaire.Latest episodes: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk.In each episode of Good Bad Billionaire, 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 Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey. From acting-giant turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, to Spanx-founder Sara Blakely, Simon and Zing rate their wealth, power, philanthropy 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 Amazon boss Jeff Bezos came to launch one of the biggest corporations of the internet age? And how six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan made his fortune with Nike? 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 Alibaba, 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 of comment 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
Episodes
Mentioned books
21 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 45min
Toto Wolff: Mercedes's billion-dollar F1 boss
A portrait of a racing boss who swapped driving dreams for venture capital and built a motorsport empire. They trace a near-fatal crash, a return to F1 management, and the commercial moves that turned a team into a multibillion-dollar asset. The conversation also probes media-fuelled F1 growth, cost caps, sponsorship politics and questions about residency and wealth.
20 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 40min
Ronnie Screwvala: The cable guy
A rags‑to‑riches tale of a toothbrush seller who rewired India’s TV landscape. Stories of door‑to‑door cable installs, launching the country’s first daily soap and a kids’ channel. Big media deals with Murdoch and Disney and a pivot into ed‑tech that made him a billionaire.
10 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 46min
Larry Ellison: Winning the database wars
A deep dive into a combative tech titan’s rise from adoption and rebellious youth to building a database empire. They cover the birth of Oracle, brutal sales tactics and the fierce database wars. Scandals, near-collapses and a dramatic comeback get attention. They also chart lavish spending, media moves and the billionaire’s complex legacy.
24 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 48min
Elizabeth Holmes: From CEO to criminal
A meteoric rise from Stanford prodigy to biotech founder and a technology that promised hundreds of blood tests from a drop. Big-name backers, slick marketing and secretive demos masked failing devices. Investigative reporting, regulatory probes and courtroom drama brought a spectacular corporate collapse and questions about ethics, groupthink and patient harm.
Feb 9, 2026 • 39min
Peggy Cherng: Engineering a fast-food fortune
An engineer turns restaurant service into an efficiency and data experiment. A mall food-court test becomes a nationwide fast-food chain through strict standardisation and custom tech. The story traces the creation of a signature orange chicken and choices to prioritize control over rapid franchising. It also touches on legal disputes, family business strategy, and a very private leadership style.
17 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 46min
Ben Francis: UK’s youngest billionaire
A rags-to-riches tale of sewing gym vests in a garage and scaling a fitness brand to global fame. They trace early IT skills, risky expo bets and a social-first influencer strategy that drove viral growth. Discussion covers leadership shifts, a major private equity deal that created billionaire status, retail expansion, profit dips and reputation risks from influencer disputes.
21 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 41min
Lucy Guo: The woman training AI
A fast-paced portrait of a skateboard-riding tech founder who built a company that trains AI used by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft. The story traces a college dropout path through Thiel Fellowship, YC and startup pivots. It highlights funding surges, internal splits, defence contracts and debates over labour and ethics.
10 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 17min
Elon Musk: You decide!
Listeners weigh in on Elon Musk's legacy, debating if he’s a visionary or a villain. Praise rolls in for his breakthroughs in electric vehicles and space travel, while criticisms focus on his political influence and environmental concerns. Anecdotes reveal mixed feelings, with fans calling him inspirational yet questioning his motivations. Quirky contributions bring humor, exploring everything from his tweets to cultural impact. A balanced discussion ensues, leaving Musk's fate as a good, bad, or just another billionaire up to the audience's interpretation.
Jan 19, 2026 • 48min
David Geffen: The Hollywood power broker
Dive into the compelling rise of David Geffen, from a Brooklyn childhood to Hollywood's elite. Discover how he ignited the careers of musical legends and co-founded DreamWorks with Spielberg. Uncover tales of wealth, personal struggles, and a staggering art collection. Geffen's philanthropic journey highlights his $1.2 billion-plus donations and insights into the ethics of wealth. Explore his legacy in entertainment, controversies, and the impact he left on culture.
13 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 42min
Sara Blakely: Shaping the world with Spanx
Discover the inspiring journey of Sara Blakely, from failing the LSAT to revolutionizing hosiery by creating Spanx. Hear about her eureka moment cutting tights and the bold steps she took to pitch to Neiman Marcus. The endorsement from Oprah catapulted her brand into iconic status. Delve into her unique marketing instincts, global expansion, and the challenges of body image debates. Explore her philanthropic efforts and her recent business ventures, culminating in a playful scoring of her legacy.
