A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo

Thinking about selling your company? 24 founders told us what really happens after the wire hits. — joinhampton.com/exit-report

Chuck Yates rode the wildest wealth rollercoaster: $150M up, $82K down, now back at $20M. In oil & gas private equity, he made (and lost) fortunes and never flinched. For Chuck, money’s just part of the story. Mindset is everything.

Here’s what we talk about:

• How Chuck went from $150M to $82K and why he wasn’t phased
• What it’s like to build wealth in the high-stakes world of energy PE
• The absurd economics of buying a plane
• How he managed to tour with celebrities
• Why your relationships matter more than your balance sheet
• The mindset shift that came after divorce, getting fired, and starting over
• How Chuck accidentally became a podcaster and ended up co-founding an AI startup
• Why self-worth shouldn't be tied to net worth and how Chuck redefined success on his own terms

Sponsors:

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Cool Links:

• Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/
• Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/
  
  

Chapters:

• (0:00) Chuck's Bold Introduction
• (3:01) Living Comfortably with $20 Million
• (3:25) The Rise in Private Equity
• (6:36) Early Career and Entry into Energy
• (10:41) The Wild World of Oil & Gas
• (13:12) Personal Life Changes and Divorce
• (13:46) The Van Halen Plane Era
• (22:50) Getting Fired and Hitting Bottom
• (31:22) The Comeback: Digital Wildcatters and AI
• (35:52) Life Philosophy and Values

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.