We Study Billionaires - The Investors Podcast

While the mainstream headlines often focus on the Magnificent Seven, we’re diving into a global powerhouse that often flies under the radar — Tencent. Based in Shenzhen, China, Tencent is a giant in gaming, social media, and cloud services. From the creation of WeChat—a super-app with over a billion monthly users—to investments in companies like Tesla, Spotify, and Snapchat, Tencent’s story is one of relentless innovation and strategic dominance.  Since its IPO in 2004, shares of Tencent have increased by nearly 500 times, producing an average annual return of 35% per year. To help cover the story of Tencent, Clay will be sharing what he learned from the book Influence Empire by Lulu Chen. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:54 - Tencent’s journey from IPO to becoming a global tech powerhouse. 05:28 - Lessons from Pony Ma’s leadership and Tencent’s strategic vision. 18:33 - How Tencent’s investments shaped global tech innovation and growth. 31:12 - The evolution and impact of WeChat as a transfo

This episode dives deep into the systemic issues of broken money, the hidden impact of inflation, and the concentration of power in financial systems. Our guest unpacks how sound money, Bitcoin, and decentralization could lead to a fairer, more stable society. We discuss historical cycles, societal consequences, and practical steps for individuals to drive meaningful change. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 05:42 - How ‘broken money’ manifests in everyday life and its hidden societal costs. 09:03 - Why inflation acts as a hidden tax and why it remains misunderstood. 11:44 - The role of the Federal Reserve in shaping American society and the economy. 15:02 - Why fiat currencies historically fail and humanity’s recurring lessons. 17:44 - The relevance of Gresham’s Law in a world of competing currencies. 29:20 - The moral argument for sound money and its long-term societal benefits. 33:49 - Practical steps individuals can take to support monetary decentralization. 38:28 - How Bitcoin and decentrali

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve will discuss the concept of scuttlebutt, made famous by Philip Fisher in Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits. You’ll learn why scuttlebutt is essential for building conviction and understanding both bullish and bearish perspectives, how it involves learning from key groups connected to a business, how asking the right questions can reveal valuable insights, why Industry specialists and strong networking are crucial for gathering expert knowledge, and how to utilize self-reflection, journaling to continuously improve your decision-making, and much more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:55 - Why scuttlebutt is so essential in building conviction and learning about a business. 03:32 - Why scuttlebutt can help you understand bullish and bearish perceptions on a business. 10:03 - The four parties related to a business that you should learn from. 26:34 - What you can learn and what questions to ask a business’s employees, from the people working at the “frontline” to th

In this episode, Clay explores The Power Law by Sebastian Mallaby and uncovers the secret behind venture capital’s astonishing success. The Power Law is a fundamental law of the universe that explains why just a handful of disruptive companies, like Google and Tesla, generate the lion’s share of returns. To win in the world of venture capital, investors must seek out bold, unconventional founders to back the next big idea. Tune in to learn how understanding the Power Law can transform your perspective on investing and help you spot tomorrow’s breakout winners. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:53 - The critical role of the Power Law in venture capital and why a few outliers drive most of the returns. 30:54 - How venture capitalists identify and back bold, unconventional founders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. 30:54 - The fascinating history behind the rise of venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and their game-changing investments. 36:22 - Why early-stage companies delay going public and

In this episode, Adam Haynes from SimpleMining.io breaks down Bitcoin mining fundamentals, energy innovations, and advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing. We explore hashrate growth, the debate between mining and buying Bitcoin, and strategies for engaging new adopters. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - The basics of Bitcoin mining and how block templates are created. 04:28 - How transaction fees support the Bitcoin ecosystem. 09:22 - The impact of hashrate growth on Bitcoin’s security and profitability. 11:45 - The role of renewable and nuclear energy in Bitcoin mining. 14:39 - The potential effects of quantum computing on Bitcoin security. 20:40 - Effective ways to introduce and engage new Bitcoin enthusiasts. 22:00 - Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) through mining versus buying Bitcoin. 27:02 - How Bitcoin mining companies might transition to AI-driven data centers. 28:38 - Insights into interest rate trends and their implications for Bitcoin. 30:35 - MicroStrategy’s influence

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve chats with Andrew Martin about how he utilized his PhD in investing, the typical traits Andrew looks for in great investments, valuable physics-related mental models to improve your thinking processes, why Andrew is attracted to smallcap stocks, how Andrew utilizes his inflection point strategy to beat the market, how he evolved from an asset-based investor to where he is today, how to think about technological disruption in low-tech industries and much more! Andrew Martin is the CEO of Fairlight Capital. Andrew has decades of experience working for large global insurance companies and asset managers managing billions of dollars. He has worked with companies such as Accenture and AIG. Andrew graduated with a B.Sc. in Theoretical Physics from the University of York and a doctorate in Astrophysics from the University of Oxford. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 05:06 - The physical cue that Andrew looks out for to help him subconsciously identify fantastic investing op

Clay dives into the life and legacy of Sol Price, the pioneering retail entrepreneur who revolutionized the industry with FedMart and Price Club, ultimately leading to the creation of Costco.  The episode explores how Price's business philosophies, including treating employees well and maintaining a relentless focus on providing value to customers, inspired iconic entrepreneurs like Sam Walton and Jeff Bezos. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - The story of Sol Price starting Fedmart and Price Club. 19:30 - Sol Price’s core business philosophies 50:47 - The key ingredients to the success of Costco’s business model. 52:58 - What led to the emergence of Costco and the eventual merger with Price Club. 01:01:40 - An overview of Costco’s business model today And so much more! Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Sti

Join us as Jeff Walton unpacks MicroStrategy's innovative financial strategies, including leveraging Bitcoin volatility, issuing convertible bonds, and building a balance sheet of permanent capital. We dive into valuations, ETF dynamics, accretive dilution, and what it means to be the "bank of the future." IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:49 - What "capturing the spread" means in MicroStrategy's strategy. 02:32 - The difference between issuing convertible notes and common stock. 06:26 - An explanation of accretive dilution and its role in corporate strategy. 09:44 - How MicroStrategy's Bitcoin holdings position it as a "bank of the future." 20:52 - Insights into constructing a leveraged balance sheet with permanent capital. 23:04 - Why MicroStrategy issued two consecutive convertible bonds. 28:49 - How Michael Saylor's "Bitcoin nuclear reactor" concept reshapes volatility. 39:47 - The impact of entering the NASDAQ and index weighting on stock performance. 48:33 - Metrics to consider when starti

In this episode, William Green speaks with Barron’s Roundtable member Bill Priest, who is Vice Chairman of TD Wealth and founder, Chairman, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of TD Epoch. Bill is the co-author of several books, including “Winning at Active Management.” Having prospered for six decades in the financial markets, Bill has seen it all. Here, he talks about his core investing principles & why he believes investors are too complacent in the face of mounting risk & fragility. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 06:50 - How Bill Priest fell in love with the stock market. 40:30 - Why he focuses relentlessly on free cash flow & cost of capital. 41:11 - How he goes about analyzing a business.  48:41 - Why growth stocks may start to struggle. 50:47 - Why he’s worried about the threat of stagflation.  59:16 - How investors can protect themselves from an unknowable future. 1:03:36 - Why AI is unstoppable, not just another bubble. 1:07:35 - Why he’d be “very careful” about investing in China. 1:15:38

On today’s episode, Clay is joined by Eddy Elfenbein to discuss his top stock picks for 2025. After Clay lets Eddy go, he also outlines his top stock pick for 2025 — Lumine Group. Eddy Elfenbein is a portfolio manager and creator of the Buy List, a portfolio of high-quality stocks that have consistently outperformed the market. Known for his Crossing Wall Street blog, he simplifies complex financial concepts into actionable insights for investors. He also manages the AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF ($CWS), which is based on his Buy List of high-quality stocks. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 04:29 - Eddy’s views on the current market and economy. 07:00 - The Buy List’s top performers from 2024. 14:41 - An overview of the names he added and removed from The Buy List. 30:38 - How Eddy balances being aware of the macro environment without letting it override his investment process. 44:15 - The investment thesis for Lumine Group. And so much more! Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps

In this episode, we discuss the Africa Bitcoin Conference, the passion for Bitcoin and human rights in Africa, and the innovative solutions tackling energy and financial inclusion. Featuring insights from Erik Hersman (Gridless) on energy infrastructure and Charlene Fadirepo on empowering African women through Bitcoin, we uncover how this technology is reshaping lives and creating opportunities for a brighter future. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Why the Africa Bitcoin Conference was so impactful and community-driven. 10:24 - How Erik Hersman and Gridless are solving the energy challenge in rural African communities. 15:21 - The role of Bitcoin in empowering individuals and advancing human rights. 15:36 - Key partnerships and energy sources powering Bitcoin mining in Africa. 21:40 - Secondary effects of energy infrastructure on local villages. 31:41 - Insights into Charlene Fadirepo’s four laws to leap and their relevance to Africa's Bitcoin transformation. 43:17 - The financial challen

In today's episode, Stig Brodersen podcasts about his journey into financial freedom.  IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Why people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in a year 05:14 - The tipping point for Stig 08:28 - Why most people don’t want to be financially independent.  11:58 - Why money can – sort of – buy you happiness 15:55 - How much money one needs to retire 17:00 - How to define financial independence 18:22 - Why you (maybe) need equity to achieve financial independence 21:56 - How to value private businesses  26:42 - What do you do when you reach your number? What is your why?  30:47 - Why you should have negotiables and non-negotiables  33:01 - How to avoid lifestyle creeps 37:34 - Why financial independence is a lonely journey 41:49 - Why the journey is the best part Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to en

On today’s episode, Clay is joined by Rob Arnott to discuss the Fundamental Index, the equity risk premium, and where Rob believes we’re at in the value cycle. Rob Arnott is the founder and chairman of the board of Research Affiliates. Rob plays an active role in the firm’s research, portfolio management, product innovation, business strategy, and client-facing activities. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the board. Rob is co-portfolio manager on the PIMCO All Asset and All Asset All Authority funds and the PIMCO RAE™ funds. Over his career, Rob has endeavored to bridge the worlds of academic theorists and financial markets, challenging conventional wisdom and searching for solutions that add value for investors. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - What the Fundamental Index is and how it has performed over the past two decades 16:32 - How to calculate the equity risk premium 23:44 - Why short-term forecasts are impossible to project accurately, but long-term forecasts are not 2

Luke Gromen unpacks the dynamics of stablecoins and T-bills, Bitcoin’s role as a fiscal policy marker, and the implications of yield curve control. We delve into U.S. dollar devaluation, global liquidity in 2025, and the interplay of tariff threats and international Bitcoin reserves. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Why total federal receipts over 18% of GDP have historically led to recessions. 11:25 - The connection between stablecoins and T-bill demand, and its influence on Bitcoin adoption. 21:58 - How the Bank of England’s yield curve control impacts Bitcoin’s bullish potential. 23:42 - Luke’s argument for early U.S. dollar devaluation to manage debt-to-GDP ratios. 24:46 - Luke’s perspective on global liquidity trends for 2025. 26:11 - The role of Bitcoin as a marker of U.S. fiscal policy failures. 28:29 - How tariff negotiations could push nations to adopt Bitcoin reserves. 29:35 - Developments in China, Canada, and France, and their potential effects on global finance. 34:26 - Steps

We Study Billionaires podcast, hosted by Stig Brodersen, Preston Pysh, William Green, Clay Finck, and Kyle Grieve, is the flagship podcast of The Investor’s Podcast Network, with more than 180 Million downloads. On the show, they interview and study famous financial billionaires including Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Howard Marks, and Bill Gates, and they teach you what they learn and how you can apply their investment strategies in the stock market. Leverage the lessons we learned from studying billionaires and apply them in your own investing journey. Listen to our weekly episodes below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve is joined by co-host William Green, who explores topics like the art of cloning and the nuances required to do it effectively, whether or not contrarianism is a trait that can be learned, the inner workings of Charlie Munger’s incredible mind, and what we can learn from him, how to improve focus while reducing noise in a complex world, the power of simplicity, why quality is so impactful, where successful investors fall on the optimism spectrum, why close-knit communities are so helpful, and much more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:53 - The most important investing concepts to adopt to tilt the odds in your favour in an uncertain world. 10:56 - The keys to becoming an expert cloner to improve your investing and life. 24:46 - Why you should search out win-win relationships. 32:34 - The importance of managing emotions. 32:34 - The three emotions that you should be aware of so you can eliminate them as fast as possible to live a better life. 48:27 - The difficult

On today’s episode, Clay is joined by Adam Seessel to discuss the developments of Big Tech over the past couple of years. Adam is an investor in Alphabet and Amazon, and in this discussion, he shares his updated thoughts on the two since he published his book, Where the Money Is, back in 2022. Adam began his investing career doing research for Sanford C. Bernstein, Baron Capital, and Davis Selected Advisors. After these stints, he started his own firm, Gravity Capital Management. Since beginning a track record in the mid-2000’s he’s beaten the S&P 500. He’s been a contributor for financial writing in Barron’s and Fortune. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:47 - Adam’s key realizations as a value investor over the past 20+ years. 13:36 - How the concept of intrinsic value can help anchor us in reality even though it’s just a mental model we use to evaluate businesses. 27:37 - Adam’s updated views on Alphabet and Amazon since he published his book in 2022. 47:40 - Adam’s approach to taking advantag

In this episode, Sam Callahan and the host explore key developments in the Bitcoin ecosystem, including BlackRock’s statement on allocation, Marathon Digital’s impressive Bitcoin strategy, and Bitcoin’s positioning as digital gold. The conversation also touches on geopolitical impacts with BRICS, U.S. policies, and Michael Saylor’s vision for Bitcoin's corporate adoption. Additionally, Sam shares insights on health and fitness for a balanced lifestyle. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - Why BlackRock considers a 2% Bitcoin allocation reasonable. 06:14 - How Marathon Digital leads the Bitcoin mining space with 6% of the hashing network. 17:14 - Jerome Powell’s statement on Bitcoin as a competitor to gold. 19:36 - The geopolitical implications of Bitcoin in the context of BRICS and U.S. trade policies. 26:35 - Trump administration's stance on cryptocurrency, with Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. 31:30 - The paradox of meme coins like DOGE in the crypto space. 41:16 - Insights from Michael S

In today's episode, Kyle Grieve is joined by co-host Clay Finck to summarize key learnings from 2024. We chat about the importance of focus and avoiding confusing noise, data that shows how difficult individual stock picks are to succeed in, why you should welcome disconfirming evidence, the impermanence of seemingly impenetrable businesses, how to close feedback loops to ensure investments are on the right track, the importance of being trustworthy and reliable, and much more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 03:11 - Why investors need to focus on the things that matter and how to avoid spending time on noise. 09:19 - Why investors should be aware of the base rates of success of investing in individual stocks (hint, making money is a lot harder than you think). 25:42 - How you can utilize and search out disconfirming evidence to improve your thinking processes. 29:46 - The impermanence of business success and the importance of updating your thinking when new information becomes available. 33:00 -

On today’s episode, Clay Finck invites Stig Brodersen to discuss current market conditions and one of Stig’s favorite books — Poor Charlie’s Almanack. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - How Stig and Clay think about today’s market. 08:02 - Why we expect the stock market to continue to hit new all-time highs. 08:02 - How Stig is protecting himself against potential inflation going forward. 39:49 - Why Stig re-reads Poor Charlie’s Almanack each year. 49:55 - The psychological biases we need to be mindful of. 01:02:14 - How the endowment effect can be detrimental to our portfolio’s returns. 01:11:45 - How we can apply Munger’s principle of inversion to our lives and our portfolios. 01:27:00 - How you can attend the live events TIP is hosting in Omaha during the Berkshire weekend. And so much more! Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock inves