A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo
Episode 65
Thinking about selling your company? 24 founders told us what really happens after the wire hits. — joinhampton.com/exit-report
Chuck Yates rode the wildest wealth rollercoaster: $150M up, $82K down, now back at $20M. In oil & gas private equity, he made (and lost) fortunes and never flinched. For Chuck, money’s just part of the story. Mindset is everything.
Here’s what we talk about:
- How Chuck went from $150M to $82K and why he wasn’t phased
- What it’s like to build wealth in the high-stakes world of energy PE
- The absurd economics of buying a plane
- How he managed to tour with celebrities
- Why your relationships matter more than your balance sheet
- The mindset shift that came after divorce, getting fired, and starting over
- How Chuck accidentally became a podcaster and ended up co-founding an AI startup
- Why self-worth shouldn't be tied to net worth and how Chuck redefined success on his own terms
Sponsors:
Cool Links:
Chapters:
- (0:00) Chuck's Bold Introduction
- (3:01) Living Comfortably with $20 Million
- (3:25) The Rise in Private Equity
- (6:36) Early Career and Entry into Energy
- (10:41) The Wild World of Oil & Gas
- (13:12) Personal Life Changes and Divorce
- (13:46) The Van Halen Plane Era
- (22:50) Getting Fired and Hitting Bottom
- (31:22) The Comeback: Digital Wildcatters and AI
- (35:52) Life Philosophy and Values
This 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 Morton
- Founder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.
- Co-parents a cow named Eliza.
Published on 1 month ago