Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20250515 | 20250518 (WS) |  | |
| Aliko Dangote: Africa's Richest Person | 20240923 | 20250319 (WS) 20250326 (WS) |
We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 Aliko Dangote started a cement business, and went on to become Africa's richest person Industrialist Aliko Dangote is known as a mild-mannered cement tycoon who often drives himself to business meetings. How did he become Africa's richest person? |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger: Muscles, Movies, Money | 20251006 | 20260211 (WS) 20260218 (WS) 20260401 (WS) |  How bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger went from Mr Universe to all-action cinematic superstar and billionaire investor. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng take us back to Schwarzenegger's youth in post-war Austria and a childhood marked by poverty. Bodybuilding gave him a way out and he took it, going all the way to Hollywood. But he made even more money from investments than he did from acting. Schwarzenegger also had a fourth career as governor of California. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before asking the audience to decide if they are good, bad, or just billionaires. To contact the team, email goodbadbillionaire@BBC.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.BBCworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire. Audio for this episode was updated on 8th October 2025. Arnold Schwarzenegger, from Mr Universe to cinematic superstar and billionaire investor How did the richest people make their billions? New: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk How bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger went from Mr Universe to all-action cinematic superstar and billionaire investor. He also had a fourth career as governor of California. |
| Elon Musk: Money, Memes And Mars | 20251201 | 20251208 (WS) |  Elon Musk's extraordinary rise, from a troubled childhood in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming the first person to amass half a trillion dollars. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng chart Elon Musk's journey to becoming a multi-billionaire entrepreneur: from tech giant PayPal, to revolutionising electric cars at Tesla, and launching rockets at SpaceX. But becoming the richest person in the world comes with plenty of boardroom drama and controversy. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? We're taking a break over the next few weeks but we'll be back in the New Year with a host of new billionaires. You can still contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@BBC.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.BBCworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire How Elon Musk became the richest person on the planet How did the richest people make their billions? New: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk How Elon Musk amassed half a trillion dollars. From his troubled childhood in South Africa, to buying Twitter and launching rockets, with all the boardroom drama along the way. |
| George Soros: 'the Man Who Broke The Bank Of England' | 20240826 | 20250226 (WS) |  George Soros escaped Nazi occupation in Hungary, before becoming one of the most successful investors in history. After making his name on Wall Street and setting up the hedge fund Quantum, he also become known as “the man who broke the Bank of England ? after making a billion dollars in a day by “betting against ? the pound. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng track the incredible life of one of the world's most polarising billionaires, and find out how the philanthropist became the target of countless conspiracy theories. According to Soros himself, he's “a little good, a little bad ?. Ultimately, Simon and Zing decide whether they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 A hedge fund tycoon who became one of the most successful investors ever |
| Jerry Seinfeld: The World's Richest Comedian | 20240819 | 20250219 (WS) | Jerry Seinfeld has a life-long obsession with jokes, but his smash hit sitcom turned the New York stand-up into the richest comedian of all time. Seinfeld was the most watched programme in America when it ended in in 1998, but it's what came next that made the real Jerry Seinfeld mega rich – streaming and syndication. Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng find out how transcendental meditation, a top Hollywood agent, the unexpected death of a parent and an “inability to act ? all helped drive his spectacular success, before deciding if they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 How a hit sitcom made a New York stand-up the richest comedian in history How a smash hit sitcom made a New York stand-up the richest comedian in history. Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng learn how streaming and syndication made Jerry Seinfeld a billionaire. |
| John De Mol: Big Brother's Daddy | 20250331 | 20250522 (WS) 20250525 (WS) 20250604 (WS) 20250605 (WS) 20250608 (WS) 20250612 (WS) 20250615 (WS) 20250709 (WS) |  By reinventing reality TV, John de Mol changed television history and made a billion dollars. He's the father of Big Brother and the man behind The Voice, Deal or No Deal and Fear Factor. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explain how the Dutch TV producer became a media tycoon, after using his showbiz connections to break into pirate radio, then TV. He went on to found one of the biggest production companies in the world: Endemol. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire? By reinventing reality TV, John de Mol made television history and a billion dollars He's the father of Big Brother and the man behind The Voice, Deal or No Deal and Fear Factor. By reinventing reality TV, John de Mol changed television history and got very rich. How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? New: Dead billionaires |
| Kiran Mazumdar-shaw: Beer, Brewing And Biotech | 20240902 | 20250305 (WS) | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw built a pharmaceutical empire after failing to get a job brewing beer. She also overcame gender bias to become India's first self-made female billionaire. Her company Biocon is now Asia's biggest insulin producer. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng follow her story, from a childhood living on a brewery compound in Bangalore to adventures in Australia and Ireland. How did Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw go from extracting enzymes from papaya fruit to mass-manufacturing medicines and being named among Time magazine's most influential people in the world? She calls herself an accidental entrepreneur; Simon and Zing decide whether they think she's good, bad or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 How India's first female self-made billionaire built a pharmaceutical empire How one woman built a pharmaceutical empire after failing to get a job brewing beer. This is the story of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, India's first female self-made billionaire. |
| Larry Ellison: Winning The Database Wars | 20260216 | 20260314 (WS) 20260315 (WS) |  Larry Ellison's business mantra is simple: “It is not sufficient that I succeed — everyone else must fail. ? From humble beginnings as an adopted child in Chicago to becoming one of the richest men in history, BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng trace the relentless ascent of one of Silicon Valley's most combative and controversial figures. After recognising the commercial potential of databases, Larry Ellison founded Oracle in the 1970s and spent the next two decades driving an aggressive sales culture that fuelled meteoric growth — and nearly sank the company in an accounting scandal. But Larry Ellison rebuilt his company into a global enterprise software giant, and in recent years has extended his influence beyond technology into Hollywood. All while amassing fighter jets, yachts, and even a Hawaiian island. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics, and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? Here's how to contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@BBC.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.BBCworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire Larry Ellison is one of Silicon Valley's most combative and controversial billionaires How did the richest people make their billions? New: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk The relentless ascent of Larry Ellison, from winning the ‘database wars' to becoming one of Silicon Valley's most combative and controversial billionaires. |
| Luciano Benetton: Famous Fashion To Cultural Controversy | 20251124 | 20260415 (WS) |  Luciano Benetton rose from poverty in postwar Italy to found a chain of 7,000 high street fashion stores and create some of the most controversial advertising campaigns in history, becoming a billionaire along the way. Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack discover how it all started for Luciano Benetton with a yellow sweater knitted by his sister, on a journey that takes in Benito Mussolini, Dolce Vita, Formula One, and Princess Diana. But Benetton wasn't just about fashion; with photographer Oliviero Toscani, the entrepreneur launched a series of highly controversial ad campaigns that tackled race, religion, AIDS, and the death penalty, that made the fashion brand infamous. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels billionaire stories of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility to explore how they achieved financial success, before asking the audience to decide if they are good, bad, or just billionaires. Some of the people we've featured previously on Good Bad Billionaire include Tyler Perry, Evan Spiegel, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Ford, LeBron James, Selena Gomez and Martha Stewart. Every episode is available to listen wherever you get your BBC podcasts. To contact the team, email goodbadbillionaire@BBC.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.BBCworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire How fashion and controversy fuelled the rise of Luciano Benetton How did the richest people make their billions? New: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk Luciano Benetton rose from poverty in Italy to become a billionaire, founding a global fashion brand and creating some of the most controversial advertising campaigns in history. |
| Markus Persson: Minecraft Maker | 20250331 | 20250515 (WS) 20250518 (WS) 20250528 (WS) 20250529 (WS) 20250601 (WS) 20250605 (WS) 20250608 (WS) 20250702 (WS) |  Minecraft is the most successful computer game ever. It's sold 300 million copies, built an active community of fans and there's now even a Minecraft movie. So how did one man - Markus Persson - create it all by himself, before selling it for billions? BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng find out how a high school dropout, obsessed with Lego and gaming, became a computer game hero. The Swedish programmer, known by the nickname Notch, built a virtual 3D world where, with the help of a pickaxe, players could harness their creativity to build almost anything, one block at a time. Persson founded the video game development company Mojang Studios, before selling it to Microsoft, but then came a spectacular downfall. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire? Audio for this episode was updated on 20 May 2025. How did Markus Persson create Minecraft, the most successful computer game ever? How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? New: Dead billionaires Markus Persson created Minecraft, the most successful computer game ever, by himself. It's sold 300 million copies, built a huge fanbase and there's now even a Minecraft movie. |
| Martha Stewart: The Original Lifestyle Influencer | 20250317 | 20250529 (WS) 20250601 (WS) 20250611 (WS) 20250904 (WS) 20250906 (WS) 20250907 (WS) |  Martha Stewart revolutionised home entertaining with her recipes, home decor and TV shows, becoming one of the world's most successful women in business. Known as the ultimate homemaker and the 'original lifestyle influencer', she's also the USA's first ever self-made female billionaire. But while the entrepreneur made her fortune as a domestic goddess, Martha Stewart is no trad wife. It took more than crafts and cookbooks to make her fortune. And then it all came crashing down. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng are back with a new season of Good Bad Billionaire. In this episode, they're exploring the life of Martha Stewart, charting the lifestyle mogul's career, from her influence over millions of American homes, to her time in prison, and her ultimate comeback – as a star of social media and the subject of a Netflix documentary, all with Snoop Dogg at her side. Then they decide if they think she's good, bad, or just another billionaire. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire? Martha Stewart, the homemaker who sold perfection to America Martha Stewart sold perfection to America as the ultimate homemaker and original lifestyle influencer, becoming the USA's first ever self-made female billionaire. How did the richest people on the planet make their billions? New: Dead billionaires |
| Miuccia Prada: 'ugly Fashion' | 20240805 | 20250205 (WS) |
We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 How a communist mime artist became the boss of one of the world's biggest fashion houses How a communist mime artist became the billionaire boss of one of the world's biggest fashion houses. Miuccia Prada changed her name, then made it famous on the runway. |
| Peggy Cherng: Engineering A Fast-food Fortune | 20260202 | 20260408 (WS) |  Peggy Cherng never set out to work in fast food, but her engineering mindset transformed how millions of Americans eat. Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack trace Peggy Cherng's journey: from electrical engineering and simulating battlefields, to co-founding Panda Express with her husband Andrew and becoming a billionaire. By applying data and rigorous standardisation, Peggy Cherng helped turn a single mall food-court experiment into the largest Chinese fast-food chain in the USA, with their orange chicken becoming a cultural staple. Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics, and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires? Here's how to contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@BBC.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.BBCworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire How Peggy Cherng used engineering and orange chicken to create a fast-food empire How did the richest people make their billions? New: Luciano Benetton and Elon Musk How Panda Express CEO Peggy Cherng used engineering and orange chicken to create America's biggest Chinese fast-food empire. |
| Peter Jackson: Lord Of The Films | 20240812 | 20250212 (WS) | How did Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson become one of only four filmmakers worth a billion dollars, and one of just three billionaires from New Zealand? BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng find out how a childhood obsession with movies led to a booming film industry in Jackson's homeland. From Bad Taste to King Kong and The Hobbit, he went from shooting home movies and directing low budget horror films to running a major special effects house and creating some of cinema's biggest hits. Simon and Zing look back at the life of a Wellywood legend, before deciding if they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. A blockbuster tale: How the Lord of the Rings director became a billionaire |
| Sam Altman: Chatgpt And The Ai Revolution | 20240916 | 20250319 (WS) | How is freshly minted billionaire Sam Altman shaping our future through his company OpenAI and ChatGPT? He made his fortune by investing in huge tech start-ups like Reddit and Airbnb, before turning his attention to artificial intelligence - being fired and re-hired by his own company in the process. Altman believes that OpenAI, with him in charge, can make the world a better place. Yet he's also preparing for the apocalypse, just in case AI turns on its creators and attacks humanity. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell the story of Sam Altman - the first openly gay billionaire on the podcast so far - before deciding whether they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 Sam Altman made a billion investing in tech start-ups, but made his name through AI ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman made a billion dollars by investing in tech start-ups like Reddit and Airbnb. But he made his name through AI. |
| Sergey Brin: Googling Billions | 20240729 | 20250129 (WS) | By founding Google, tech titan Sergey Brin helped shape the internet. He also got very, very rich, as his company Alphabet became one of the biggest in the world. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell the story of the billionaire who partied on planes after escaping prejudice in Russia. Sergey Brin and his best friend Larry Page became two of history's biggest tech giants by building the planet's most popular search engine. How did their technology startup become one of the world's biggest companies? Simon and Zing find out, before deciding if they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 By founding Google, Sergey Brin helped shape the internet. He also got very, very rich By founding Google, Sergey Brin helped shape the internet. He also got very, very rich. Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng explore how the technology giant made his billions. Find out how billionaires got so rich: are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? |
| Strive Masiyiwa: Connecting A Continent | 20250505 | 20250605 (WS) 20250611 (WS) |  Telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa escaped kidnap to become Zimbabwe's first billionaire. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng tell Masiyiwa's story from a youth fleeing post-colonial conflict, through education in the UK, to enormous wealth delivering mobile phone and internet technology across Africa. The podcast that tells tales of titans of technology, Wall Street moguls, pop stars, sporting legends, CEOs and entrepreneurs also details Masiyiwa's many court battles and run-ins with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. Then Simon and Zing decide if Masiyiwa is good, bad, or just another billionaire. Telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa escaped kidnap to be Zimbabwe's first billionaire. He fled post-colonial conflict before delivering phone and internet technology across Africa. |
| Tiger Woods: Golf's 'golden Boy' | 20240729 | 20250122 (WS) |  Golfing superstardom made him incredibly rich. Personal disasters nearly took it all away. How did Tiger Woods go from a child golfing prodigy to the world's highest paid athlete for a whole decade? BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explain how one of the greatest golfers of all time broke barriers in his sport, winning 15 major golf championships and 82 PGA Tour events. He's an inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, won the Masters five times, the PGA Championship four times and both the Open and the US Open three times, as well as helping the US win the Ryder Cup. High-profile sponsorship deals and business ventures made him a billionaire, but then came affairs, car crashes and scandal. Simon and Zing track the spectacular rise of this global sporting superstar, then decide if they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. Golfing superstardom made Tiger Woods rich. Personal disasters nearly took it all away Golfing superstardom made him incredibly rich. Personal disasters nearly took it all away. How Tiger Woods went from a child golfing prodigy to the world's highest paid athlete. |
| Whitney Wolfe Herd: Dating App Entrepreneur | 20240930 | 20250326 (WS) | Whitney Wolfe Herd, the “queen of the swipes ?, launched a female-led dating app after a public scandal around her sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against Tinder. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng follow her story from a popular student with a flair for marketing, to carving her own path in the male-dominated tech world. Owning the ‘girlboss' image, she took her company Bumble public aged just 31 with her baby 'on her hip', making her the youngest self-made female billionaire. But she wouldn't stay one for long. Simon and Zing explore her story before deciding if they think she's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 How the woman who founded dating apps Bumble and Tinder was briefly a billionaire How Whitney Wolfe Herd, who founded dating apps Bumble and Tinder, was briefly a billionaire. |
| Zhang Yiming: Tiktok's Tech Boss | 20240909 | 20250312 (WS) | How did an unassuming software engineer become one of the richest people on the planet? This is the story of how Zhang Yiming transformed social media by creating TikTok, and how the Chinese tech company ByteDance became a multi-billion dollar business. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explore Yiming's various successes with different apps before he hit the jackpot with TikTok. Then they decide whether they think he's good, bad, or just another billionaire. We'd love to hear your feedback. 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 How Chinese tech company ByteDance became a multi-billiondollar social media business |