How I Built This with Guy Raz Air Lease Corporation: Steven Udvar-Hazy
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Sep 4, 2023 Steven Udvar-Hazy, founder and executive chairman of Air Lease Corporation, shares his remarkable journey from escaping Communist Hungary to becoming a billionaire in aviation. He reveals his early obsession with planes and how he pivoted from founding an airline to establishing a successful leasing company during the jet age. Udvar-Hazy also discusses the emotional challenges of his family's escape, the dynamics of the aircraft leasing industry, and his philanthropic efforts to inspire future generations through aviation.
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Escape from Hungary
- Steven Udvar-Hazy's family escaped communist Hungary with a guide, facing minefields and barbed wire.
- Their first attempt failed due to heavy snow and the risk of mines, forcing them to return to Budapest.
Airport Deception
- To leave Hungary, Udvar-Hazy's family used separate passports and pretended not to know each other at the airport.
- His mother instructed him to ignore his father and brother, highlighting the risks they faced.
Airport Obsession
- Udvar-Hazy's aviation obsession led him to sneak off to airports instead of studying, meticulously documenting flight details.
- He even talked his way into control towers, showcasing his passion's intensity from a young age.