Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the chaotic career of Adam Neumann, the charismatic Israeli-American entrepreneur who co-founded WeWork with the ambition to become the world's first trillionaire, live forever, and serve as "president of the world",. We trace Neumann's journey from his early life on a kibbutz and service in the Israeli Navy to launching a workspace empire in 2010 that aimed to replicate a feeling of "togetherness" he felt was lacking in the West.

Join us as we explore how WeWork reached a staggering valuation of $47 billion with backing from SoftBank, only to crumble under the weight of governance issues and massive financial losses,. We discuss the company’s "frat-boy culture," which included allegations of gender discrimination and reports of Neumann drinking tequila during interviews and transporting marijuana on a private jet,,.

Finally, we break down the implosion of WeWork’s 2019 IPO, Neumann’s forced resignation—which still netted him an exit package worth nearly $1.7 billion—and the company's eventual bankruptcy in 2023,,. Plus, hear about Neumann’s recent attempt to buy back his former company and his pivot to a new residential real estate startup, Flow,.