Grant Cardone, real estate master and founder of 10X, joins the show for an honest breakdown of his journey from addiction and failure to billion-dollar success. It’s easy to assume his rise was all confidence and sales mastery—but Grant admits he would’ve skipped sales entirely and gone straight to marketing and investing.

From sleeping on couches to building a $5B portfolio, he shares what really changed the game: going 10x bigger in every direction. Whether you love him or hate him, this episode is a masterclass in thinking long-term, building resilience, and playing offense.

00:00 Introduction
04:18 Grant’s decade of drug use and the harsh realities of addiction
08:26 The childhood moment that shaped his view of money
12:11 How Grant treats money and the importance of financial respect
14:35 Discovering the power of improving sales skills
17:13 Borrowing $3,000 to invest in himself after rehab
20:59 Studying sales obsessively and becoming a master through teaching
24:30 Choosing the wrong lane early on and staying small for too long
28:26 From fired car salesman to training the auto industry
34:35 First big real estate move and building passive income
38:01 Why real estate gave him peace compared to rejection-heavy sales
41:00 How to turn criticism and hate into fuel
46:07 The myth of social media comments and clickbait haters
51:00 How to build unshakable trust
54:09 The key reason why the 2008 crash sparked the 10x mindset
56:54 Going from $2M/year to nearly $1B/year through bold expansion
58:00 Business conflicts, lawsuits, and lessons on who to fight
1:06:34 Building a bank and changing the financial system
1:09:07 Longevity secrets and 10x Health System
1:13:05 Discipline, overeating, and stacking small daily habits
1:17:04 Raising kids with contracts, income, and real-world accountability
1:22:11 Teaching kids confidence through work and communication
1:27:05 Letting go of dying partnerships
1:29:16 Why stopping unhealthy habits is the ultimate hack

» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life:
https://www.digitalplaybook.net/

» Transform your physique:
https://www.thrstapp.com/

» My clothing brand, THRST:
https://thrstofficial.com

» Custom Bioniq supplements:
https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/

» Join WHOOP and get your first month for free:
join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Grant:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantcardone
Website: https://grantcardone.com/

Is the high cost of housing the new normal?