$13M But Zero Cash: Why Net Worth Is a Lie

If you're a founder doing at least $3M/year in sales, check out Hampton: https://www.joinhampton.com/.Mike Brown built an oil & gas empire, scaled his net worth to nearly $20 million, but ended up cash poor, losing $1.8M in a failed bet, and borrowing money from his wife to pay taxes. Now, he’s rebuilt his fortune, redefined what wealth really means, and is living a life designed around freedom, not just big numbers.Here’s what we talk about:How Mike went from $2K in his bank account to making millions in oil & gas dealsThe "gold rush" mentality that led him to reinvest everything and regret itWhy he thought $100M was the magic number (it wasn’t)The dangers of illiquid assets and chasing wealth at all costsLosing $1.8M on a distressed e-commerce acquisition How divorce and bad bets forced a complete financial rethinkMike’s personal framework for financial freedom (12 months of liquidity, 5–7 years cash cushion, escape velocity)Why liquidity and cash flow > net worthHis full portfolio breakdown today: fixed income, oil & gas, index funds, and zero angel investingThe mindset shift: from "grow at all costs" to "invest for safety and joy"What it really feels like to sell your Lamborghini and love itHow he's building a life he never wants to retire from — and helping other founders do the sameCool Links:Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/Mike’s Wealth Business https://unbreakablewealth.com/Chapters:(00:00) Introduction to Mike Brown's Financial Journey(02:36) Mike's Early Life and Money Lessons(05:07) Navy to Entrepreneurship: The Million Dollar Deal(07:24) The Gold Rush: Rapid Wealth Accumulation(16:54) The Downfall: Divorce and Financial Struggles(19:23) The E-commerce Disaster: Losing It All(22:28) Rebuilding and Relying on Support(24:55) Rebuilding with Cash Flow(25:42) Lessons from Failure(27:02) Current Portfolio Strategy(28:41) Cash Flow and Investments(31:11) Financial Freedom Levels(33:53) Personal Monthly Burn and Joy(36:17) Redefining Wealth and Happiness(42:12) The Irony of Wealth(47:24) Final Takeaways and CommunityThis podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances.Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.Your Host: Harry MortonFounder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.Co-parents a cow named Eliza. 

Om Podcasten

This is Moneywise, a podcast where host Sam Parr is joined by high-net-worth guests to explore exclusive insights into personal finance and lifestyle tailored for other high-net-worth people, or those on their way. They'll get radically transparent about the numbers, revealing things like their burn rates, portfolios, and spending habits. Who is Sam Parr? Sam is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of The Hustle, which he sold to HubSpot in 2021. He's also the co-host of one of the world's top podcasts for entrepreneurs, My First Million. Known for his insightful business acumen and candid communication style, Sam Parr continues to be a prominent figure in the world of media and entrepreneurship. Sam's newest and biggest venture yet is Hampton, which he co-founded in 2022. This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.