The Jordan Harbinger Show 1231: Owen Hanson | From USC Golden Boy to International Drug Kingpin
Oct 30, 2025
Owen Hanson, a former USC athlete turned international drug kingpin, shares his extraordinary journey from the brink of crime to business success. He reveals how his childhood trauma and prison time shaped his views on loyalty and true friendship. Owen humorously compares the complexities of shipping ice cream to drug smuggling, illustrating how his illicit experiences inform his new venture. With a high-protein ice cream brand, he reflects on the transferable skills between crime and legitimate entrepreneurship, showcasing his incredible redemption story.
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Abandonment Fueled A Hustler Mindset
- Owen Hanson describes his mother leaving when he was eight and how that abandonment shaped his need for approval and status.
- That childhood wound pushed him toward fraternities, drugs, and hustling to gain acceptance and attention.
From One Ounce To Campus Empire
- Owen recounts sourcing an ounce of cocaine disguised in a styrofoam container and turning it into a campus-wide business overnight.
- He scaled quickly by undercutting competitors and relied on roommates and football teammates to distribute and boost status.
Black-Market Systems Translate To Legit Business
- Running illegal bookmaking taught Owen systems thinking: pay on time, treat customers well, and scale with software.
- Those business principles later translated directly into legal ventures like ice cream logistics.
