Adam Neumann, founder of WeWork and former CEO who reimagined the millennial workplace, talks about how he talked investors out of billions of dollars, the rise and fall of WeWork, and the impact of COVID-19 on his business model.
WeWork's initial success was fueled by positioning itself as a tech company, but its inflated valuation eventually collapsed when investors saw through the illusion.
Adam Neumann's behavior and questionable workplace ethics tarnished WeWork's image and raised concerns about his ethical standards.
Deep dives
Adam Newman's Journey: From Zero to a Billion
Adam Newman, the co-founder of WeWork, went from growing up in Israel to becoming a charismatic billionaire. With the concept of WeWork, he turned buildings into short-term office spaces rented at a profit, attracting millennial professionals. His company reached a valuation of $47 billion, but his lavish spending and questionable metrics led to its downfall. Despite the dramatic decrease in valuation and criticism, Newman walked away with over a billion dollars.
The Rise of WeWork and the Tech Company Illusion
WeWork positioned itself as a technology company rather than a real estate company, attracting investments from major players like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Newman's charismatic pitch, combined with the trend of high valuations for tech companies, allowed WeWork to reach a valuation of $47 billion. However, this image of a tech company masked the reality of its core business being office spaces. The inflated valuation eventually collapsed when investors saw through the illusion.
The Controversies and Ethical Questions Surrounding Newman
Newman's behavior, including extravagant spending, hosting wild parties, and promoting a frat boy culture, drew criticism. Reports of questionable workplace ethics, sexual assault allegations, retaliation against employees, and the mistreatment of tenants highlighted the darker side of WeWork's internal culture. These controversies tarnished Newman's image and raised concerns about his ethical standards.
The Fall of WeWork and Newman's Post-WeWork Ventures
WeWork's attempts to go public failed as the company's financials and metrics were questioned. Its valuation dropped from $47 billion to $7 billion, causing significant losses for investors. Newman's net worth suffered, but he still walked away with over a billion dollars. He has since invested in real estate and other startups, demonstrating his resilience and ability to attract venture capital again.
How did WeWork founder Adam Neumann oversee one of the most spectacular business fails in modern history? BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng find out, and then they judge him.
In the podcast that uncovers how the world's 2,668 billionaires made their money and asks if they are good or bad for the planet, Simon and Zing follow Adam Neumann's journey from a barefoot, tequila-shotting CEO who reimagined the millennial workplace, to a disgraced tech billionaire. Find out how he talked investors out of billions of dollars, and why it all came crashing down.
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