My First Million I was $15m in debt...now I own a billion dollar portfolio
854 snips
Jul 22, 2025 
Sanjiv Chopra, a renowned real estate investor with a billion-dollar portfolio, shares his incredible journey from being $15 million in debt to achieving remarkable success. He discusses the risky decisions he made, including pawning his wife's wedding ring to fund a gym, and how he turned it around. Sanjiv emphasizes resilience, the importance of referral marketing, and adapting to the evolving retail landscape. He reflects on personal motivations, balancing life as a businessman and a father, and the lessons learned from his transformative experiences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
$15M Debt Crisis
- Sanjiv borrowed $15 million based on spec deals with a Jack in the Box franchisee.
- Three days before closing, the franchisee failed, leaving him in massive debt and emotional distress.
Buying Gym With Wedding Ring
- Sanjiv bought a gym by pawning his wife's wedding ring for the down payment.
- The gym's financials were worse than advertised, forcing intense hands-on efforts to turn it around.
Referral Marketing Strategy
- Use referral incentives that reward members with free or discounted memberships for bringing in others.
- This sparked motivation and reduced churn dramatically in gym memberships.