$13M But Zero Cash: Why Net Worth Is a Lie

Moneywise

Content provided by Hampton. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Hampton or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

13d ago 51:17

MP3•Episode home

If you're a founder doing at least $3M/year in sales, check out Hampton: https://www.joinhampton.com/.

Mike Brown built an oil & gas empire, scaled his net worth to nearly $20 million, but ended up cash poor, losing $1.8M in a failed bet, and borrowing money from his wife to pay taxes. Now, he’s rebuilt his fortune, redefined what wealth really means, and is living a life designed around freedom, not just big numbers.

Here’s what we talk about:

How Mike went from $2K in his bank account to making millions in oil & gas deals
The "gold rush" mentality that led him to reinvest everything and regret it
Why he thought $100M was the magic number (it wasn’t)
The dangers of illiquid assets and chasing wealth at all costs
Losing $1.8M on a distressed e-commerce acquisition
How divorce and bad bets forced a complete financial rethink
Mike’s personal framework for financial freedom (12 months of liquidity, 5–7 years cash cushion, escape velocity)
Why liquidity and cash flow > net worth
His full portfolio breakdown today: fixed income, oil & gas, index funds, and zero angel investing
The mindset shift: from "grow at all costs" to "invest for safety and joy"
What it really feels like to sell your Lamborghini and love it
How he's building a life he never wants to retire from — and helping other founders do the same

Cool Links:

Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/
Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/
Mike’s Wealth Business https://unbreakablewealth.com/

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to Mike Brown's Financial Journey
(02:36) Mike's Early Life and Money Lessons
(05:07) Navy to Entrepreneurship: The Million Dollar Deal
(07:24) The Gold Rush: Rapid Wealth Accumulation
(16:54) The Downfall: Divorce and Financial Struggles
(19:23) The E-commerce Disaster: Losing It All
(22:28) Rebuilding and Relying on Support
(24:55) Rebuilding with Cash Flow
(25:42) Lessons from Failure
(27:02) Current Portfolio Strategy
(28:41) Cash Flow and Investments
(31:11) Financial Freedom Levels
(33:53) Personal Monthly Burn and Joy
(36:17) Redefining Wealth and Happiness
(42:12) The Irony of Wealth
(47:24) Final Takeaways and Community

This podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances.
Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.

Your Host: Harry Morton

Founder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.
Co-parents a cow named Eliza.

52 episodes