Death, Sex & Money Private Equity Blew Up My Life
10 snips
Sep 16, 2025 
Megan Greenwell, a journalist and author of 'Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream,' shares her tumultuous experience as editor-in-chief of Deadspin under a private equity takeover. She discusses the unsettling impact of private equity on various sectors, including media and healthcare. Through gripping personal narratives, Megan reveals the hidden exploitation behind corporate profits and raises awareness about the detrimental effects on communities. Her investigation sheds light on the ethical dilemmas surrounding private equity in America.
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Young Reporter Uncovers Hidden Crime
- As a 15-year-old student journalist Megan exposed an indentured-servitude ring tied to a major landlord.
- The reporting led to federal prison sentences and huge community upheaval in Berkeley.
Scale Over Sustainability
- Great Hill aimed for scale (becoming like ESPN) rather than sustainable profitability at Deadspin.
- Private equity can profit from a portfolio company even if the company itself fails.
How Leverage Shifts Risk
- Leveraged buyouts load debt onto the purchased company, not the private equity firm.
- That separation of debt transfers most financial risk to workers and the business itself.
