The Tim Ferriss Show

#407: Sam Zell — Strategies for High-Stakes Investing and Dealmaking

80 snips
Jan 23, 2020
Sam Zell, Chairman of Equity Group Investments, shares insights as one of the greatest business minds in investing. He emphasizes the importance of ownership and operational control, stating, 'If I can't run it, then I don't want to own it.' Zell reflects on his family's escape from Poland during WWII, highlighting resilience and market dynamics shaped by such experiences. He provides investment wisdom on risk management, the evolution of REITs, and critiques modern business models, offering predictions for the future of the real estate market.
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ANECDOTE

Escape from Poland

  • Sam Zell's father, a grain merchant, foresaw the danger to Jewish people in Poland during the 1930s.
  • He planned their escape to the US, cleverly smuggling money to Palestine for their journey.
ANECDOTE

Last Train Out

  • Zell's parents fled Poland on the last train out on August 31, 1939, just hours before the German invasion.
  • They journeyed east through various means, securing transit visas from Chiune Sugihara in Lithuania.
ANECDOTE

Hidden Footage

  • As a child, Zell witnessed smuggled Holocaust footage, showing bodies piled in trucks.
  • This experience deeply impacted him, highlighting the near-fate of his parents and shaping his perspective.
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