PBD Podcast "Billionaires Shouldn’t Exist" - Ben & Jerry’s Founder SLAMS The Rich, Capitalism & Corporate Greed | PBD Podcast | Ep. 560
72 snips
Mar 12, 2025 
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, takes a bold stance against wealth inequality, sharing his evolution from ice cream mogul to activist. He provocatively argues that billionaires should not exist and critiques corporate greed within capitalist systems. The conversation dives into the implications of socio-economic disparities, the failures of political narratives, and the wastefulness of government spending, intertwining humor with serious topics. Cohen's unique perspective also merges his love for ice cream with his call for systemic change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Humble Beginnings to Millions
- Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield started Ben & Jerry's with $12,000 after abandoning a bagel shop idea.
- Their $5 ice cream-making course led to a $326 million sale.
Social Democracy, Not Socialism
- Ben Cohen, despite his wealth, advocates for social democracy, not pure socialism.
- He believes in capitalism with a stronger safety net and less disparity.
Shifting Pay Ratios
- Ben & Jerry's initial 5:1 CEO-to-worker pay ratio grew to 17:1 by 2000.
- This ratio likely increased further, highlighting the changing company values.