
Good Bad Billionaire
BBC World Service
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 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
- 102 episodes
- Updated Monday
Episodes102
Jun 2, 2025 · 40 min
May 26, 2025 · 48 minLeBron James: King of the court
May 19, 2025 · 44 minMasayoshi Son: High-tech gambler
May 12, 2025 · 42 minStrive Masiyiwa: Connecting a continent
May 5, 2025 · 46 minIke Perlmutter: Marvel’s empire builder
Apr 28, 2025 · 47 minSelena Gomez: Actress, singer, beauty mogul
Apr 21, 2025 · 46 minOrlando Bravo: Tech dealmaker
Apr 14, 2025 · 48 minVince McMahon: Wrestling's ringmaster
Apr 7, 2025 · 46 minMarkus Persson: Minecraft maker
Mar 31, 2025 · 41 minJohn de Mol: Big Brother’s daddy
Mar 24, 2025 · 46 minSir James Dyson: Sucking up the cash
Mar 17, 2025 · 51 minMartha Stewart: The original lifestyle influencer
Feb 17, 2025 · 38 minEncore - Chuck Feeney: All duty
Feb 3, 2025 · 53 minEncore - Taylor Swift: Swiftonomics
Dec 2, 2024 · 46 minPeter Thiel: Paypal mafioso
Nov 25, 2024 · 42 minDoris Fisher: Don’t mind The Gap
Nov 18, 2024 · 46 minCarlos Slim Helú: Telecom titan
Nov 11, 2024 · 40 minRoman Abramovich: Premier League oligarch
Nov 4, 2024 · 42 minMukesh Ambani: Asia’s richest person
Oct 28, 2024 · 40 minPatrice Motsepe: Mining magnate