Moneywise A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo
108 snips
Aug 5, 2025 
Chuck Yates, a former private equity investor turned AI startup co-founder, shares his wild financial journey from $150M to $82K and back to $20M. He discusses the quirky economics of private planes and touring with celebrities. Chuck emphasizes the importance of mindset over money, arguing that relationships and personal fulfillment outweigh net worth. After navigating divorce and career setbacks, he redefined success on his own terms and highlights the lessons learned from the highs and lows of wealth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Bold Start in Private Equity
- Chuck Yates boldly claimed to be worth a million dollars before he actually was.
- This confidence helped him rise to private equity success and eventually peak at $150 million.
Raising Big Energy Funds
- Chuck's wealth grew by raising bigger and bigger energy private equity funds over 15 years.
- Despite massive earnings, significant portions were recycled as commitments to new funds, moderating personal liquidity.
Energy Business Entry and Culture
- Chuck entered the energy business by default due to cultural fit and networking in Houston.
- Early exposure included hearing stories of billionaires going broke multiple times, which normalized financial ups and downs for him.