Tycoon Profiles
Business lessons and insights from billionaires and tycoons.
Russian Tycoon Alexander Lebedev
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 a group billionaires, or “Oligarchs,” quickly emerged in Russia. By about 1995 there were a handful of billionaires helping Boris Yeltsin to run the country as well as many other up and comers who would comprise the second and third waves of tycoons. As a group these men are fascinating to study because of the unstable and very dangerous environment they had the courage to operate in. Back then to build an empire you also needed a private army of former military, police, and intelligence types to protect your assets. Some of these private armies had up to 1000 or more members. They guarded the tycoon’s banks, factories, head offices, and families. Whenever a tycoon had to travel across Moscow to attend a meeting it was in a convoy of armored limos and SUV escorts packed with machine-gun wielding men. Continue reading
Larry Hillblom the Strange Billionaire
If you are thinking of buying his biography there’s a review online. Continue reading
Richard Rainwater Profile
Here’s one of the great American dealmakers. Continue reading
If there was an official movie for this site it would have to be classic The Man Who Would Be King.
I’ve been a film buff for as long as I can remember, so I can’t refrain from recommending films of relevance to us. So this week, I want to recommend an old classic as a great inspirational film for all prospective tycoons to watch. Continue reading
King Larry: The Life and Ruins of a Billionaire Genius
From dumpster diver to billionaire.
Author and director James Scurlock discusses his book, King Larry: The Life and Ruins of a Billionaire Genius, the story of DHL cofounder, Larry Hillblom, an elusive and mysterious billionaire. Continue reading
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