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The Max Tornow Podcast

#290 How To Become An Arms Dealer - "War Dogs" - The True Story Of David Packouz

Feb 1, 2025
02:05:18

Today, we sit down with David Packouz, a man whose life is stranger than fiction. From landing a $300 million government contract as a 25 year old arms dealer to inspiring the blockbuster film War Dogs, David’s story is a rollercoaster of risk, ambition, and redemption.

We dive into the wild tales behind his journey—how a $1.8 million opportunity pulled him into government contracting, the truth about the infamous Chinese ammo scandal, and whether the jaw-dropping scenes from War Dogs, like guns in the trunk, really happened. David also reflects on the cost of his decisions, sharing how he went from making millions to nearly going broke, and the lessons he learned about time, risk, and reinvention.

But it doesn’t end there. In this episode, David reveals how he turned his life around, channeling his passion into creating the BeatBuddy, a groundbreaking invention for musicians. He opens up about staying resilient, refusing to become bitter, and the process of bringing his unbelievable story to the big screen.

This conversation is packed with humor, insight, and cautionary tales. Whether you're curious about the inside scoop on government contracting, entrepreneurship, or navigating failure, this episode has something for everyone.

Get ready for a wild, unfiltered ride with David Packouz!


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Follow David Packouz on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/davidpackouz

Follow War Dogs Academy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wardogsacademy

Follow War Dogs Academy on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@WarDogsAcademy

Read more about War Dogs Academy:
wardogsacademy.com

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https://www.singularsound.com/

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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
0:01:22 - Do government contracts still include arms dealing?
0:05:36 - How did David become an arms dealer?
0:14:25 - The first contract David won
0:19:42 - The contract that made David and Efraim famous
0:42:36 - Getting raided by the FBI
0:53:53 - "How much justice can you afford?"
0:57:08 - The New York Times story about David and Efraim and how they got charged
1:05:36 - How Efraim got arrested
1:13:27 - How did house arrest make David millions?
1:21:49 - How to promote physical products
1:22:57 - How not to be bitter
1:33:33 - Starting the "War Dogs Academy"
1:42:47 - How did the War Dogs movie come to be?
1:52:53 - Was the "Triangle of Death" scene based on a true story?
1:57:33 - Meeting Jonah Hill and Miles Teller
2:00:27 - How to find David

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