The Knowledge Project Henry Singleton: The CEO Who Bought Back 90% of His Company's Shares [Outliers]
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Apr 22, 2025 Explore the life of Henry Singleton, the mastermind behind Teledyne's success and a master of capital allocation. Discover his unique, chess-like strategic thinking that led to remarkable annual returns. Dive into his innovative approaches, including an advanced internal guidance system and strategic acquisitions that navigated market trends. Learn how Singleton integrated autonomy into his company's culture, paving the way for long-term success while remaining a hidden genius in corporate America.
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Singleton's Exceptional Returns
- Henry Singleton achieved 20.4% annual returns over nearly three decades at Teledyne, outperforming major indices and rivals.
- He did this by ignoring conventional wisdom and acting with disciplined, rational capital allocation.
Blindfold Chess Skill
- Singleton played blindfold chess, visualizing entire games without seeing the board.
- He could even detect a wrong move three plays earlier, showing astonishing spatial awareness.
Creative Early Financing
- Singleton raised cash by borrowing against costly equipment when cash was tight in early Teledyne days.
- This unconventional approach showed his scrappy and creative business-building style.
