Good Bad Billionaire
Hosted by Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng and Zing and Elise Hu and Simon and Simon Tulett and Zing Tseng · BBC World Service
4.5from 1,447 ratings
- 117
- Episodes
- 103
- Transcribed
- 1,447
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2023
- First episode
About Good Bad Billionaire
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 (mailto: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
- Publisher
- BBC World Service
- Category
- business · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 22 Aug 2023
- Latest episode
- 5 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
103 of 117 episodes have a transcript.
5 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Nelson Peltz: Junk bond activist
28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal: The billionaire royal
21 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Sheryl Sandberg: Chief operator
Inside a recent episode
Nelson Peltz: Junk bond activist
Published 5 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] But soon he was buying up much bigger companies. In 1985, Triangle bought the National Cannes Company for $460 million. The following year, it absorbed American Cannes Company, paying $570 million in cash and stock. Nelson and Peter specialised in what's known as leveraged buyouts and, according to the New York Times, financed these buyouts with junk bonds. But you might be asking at this point, how exactly do these leveraged buyouts work alongside junk bonds? So the word leverage is code for debt. And so a leveraged buyout is when basically I see a company which I think is not doing very well and I think I could do a better job. […]
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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.2 / 5
- 233 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.5 / 5
- 1,214 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 60
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 99
Contact Good Bad Billionaire
- Guest appearances
- Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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Questions about Good Bad Billionaire
Who hosts Good Bad Billionaire?
Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng and Zing and Elise Hu and Simon and Simon Tulett and Zing Tseng host the show. Published by BBC World Service.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Good Bad Billionaire take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
103 of 117 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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