Show Notes:
The Allen & Co story hasn't been fully told yet - until now. To understand this secretive merchant bank, we need to start with its founder Charlie Allen. In this episode, we'll explore how Charlie Allen built Allen & Co and uncover the key moves that made the merchant bank so successful in the mid-1900s, setting the stage for his nephew Herb Jr to take the reins and transform it into what it is today.
If you liked the episode please subscribe and leave a review!
Sources:
The Art of Success by The editors of Fortune Magazine
Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons by Seymour Schulich
The Financiers: The World of Great Wall Street Investment Banking Houses by Michael C. Jensen
The Merchant Bankers by Joseph Wechsberg
Money, Money, Money: Wall Street in words and pictures by Ralph G. Martin
Transforming the Irvine Ranch by Michael Stockstill
"A. Alfred Taubman papers, 1942-2015" University of Michigan Library
"Border Raid" by Time Magazine 1950
"Colorado Contortion" by Forbes Magazine 1953
"Company with a Split Personality" by Forbes Magazine 1973
"GOP Stronghold" by LA Times 1973
"Inside the Private World of Allen & Co. Putting a premium on personal ties, this family firm thrives in the land of the giants" by Carol J Loomis
"Opportunity, Inc" by Time Magazine 1948
"Plain Abe of Northtown" Is Transforming District" by The Kansas City Star 1948
"Pride of Pueblo" by Time Magazine 1948
"Charlie's Profit Instinct" by Time Magazine 1963
"Sidelights; Situation Found: Harold Allen" by NY Times 1965
"So I lost, So What?" by Forbes Magazine 1969
"Titanic Windfall" by Forbes Magazine 1958
"Too Soon, Charlie Allen?" by Forbes Magazine 1975
"Trucker Loses Action to Force Sale of Land" by LA Times 1962
"Tustin Continues Growth" by The Tustin News 1966
"Wall Street's Charlie Allen and His Family of Financiers" by NY Times 1976
"Winning of the Irvine Co." by LA Times 1977
Links:
John Scully Arbuckle Speech: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/news-history/ernest-c-arbuckle-award-acceptance-speech-john-h-scully-mba-68
Paul Enright Analyst Presentation: https://becomeaninvestor.org/career-advice
Donald Bren Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-donald-bren-blueprint-billionaire/id1726030978?i=1000647523005
Follow me on Twitter: https://x.com/rainmakerspod
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57:12
#11 Ken Hersh: Capitalizing on Chaos
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where financial legends come to life.
Today, we're joined by Ken Hersh, co-founder of Natural Gas Partners, to uncover the firm's extraordinary success.
Ken will share how NGP's innovative strategies transformed the oil and gas industry from a neglected sector into a private equity goldmine.
We'll explore the vision, timing, and innovation that led to larger funds, impressive returns, and a revolution in energy investment.
Join us for an insider's perspective on how NGP became a true game-changer in the world of finance.
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Sources:
The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh
“The Smart Money Speaks” by Stephen Taub
“Rainwater’s World” by David Carey
“Investing secrets of the Rainwater Rolodex” by Hilary Rosenberg
"The man behind the Bass Dynasty" by Anthony Bianco
"The Rainwater Prophecy" by Oliver Ryan
If you enjoyed the episode please share and leave a review!
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51:29
#10 Natural Gas Partners: The Rainwater Thesis
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where we unravel the strategies of investing legends.
Today, we're diving into the birth of Natural Gas Partners, a pivotal moment in Richard Rainwater's illustrious career.
We'll explore how the shifting landscape of the oil and gas industry set the stage for Rainwater's bold move, dissecting his unique approach to deal-making.
Join us as we connect the dots between market events, meticulous research, and the formation of a private equity powerhouse.
This is part one of a two-part series that promises to decode the brilliance behind one of the most successful ventures in financial history.
Get ready to discover how a visionary investor turned industry upheaval into extraordinary wealth!
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Sources:
ENSCO: The First 20 Years by Carolyn Barta
Oil Capital by Bernard F. Clark Jr.
Money Masters of Our Time by John Train
The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh
Squawk Box CNBC April 4th, 2012 6:00am-9:00am EDT
Wall Street with Louis Rukeyeser 1997
“The Smart Money Speaks” by Stephen Taub
“Rainwater’s World” by David Carey
“Investing secrets of the Rainwater Rolodex” by Hilary Rosenberg
-“Lord of the Lowball” by Shade Rowe
"Bootstrapped" by Mark Kindley
"Bass brothers lose investment manager" by Stephen Rassenfoss
"The man behind the Bass Dynasty" by Anthony Bianco
"The Rainwater Prophecy" by Oliver Ryan
If you enjoyed the episode please share and leave a review!
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45:06
#9 Kerkorian's Second Act: Redefining Industries
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where billionaire success stories come to life.
Today, we continue our deep dive into Kirk Kerkorian's investment playbook.
We'll explore how this casino mogul navigated a financial crisis after a high-stakes, debt-fueled bet on MGM during an economic downturn.
Discover how Kerkorian rebounded from a staggering loss, seeing his net worth plummet from $350 million to $70 million in just one year.
Join us for a masterclass in resilience and strategic recovery in the face of near-financial ruin.
Special thanks to @45wallst on twitter for helping with the research of this episode.
Follow him here: https://twitter.com/45WallSt
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Sources:
Fade Out: The Calamitous Final Days of MGM by Peter Bart
Winner Takes All by Christina Binkley
Indecent Exposure: A True Story of Hollywood and Wall Street by David McClintick
Keynote Speech to The Society of Automotive Analysts - Jerome B. York 1996
Don’t Ever tell Babe Ruth how to hold his bat by D.M.
Kerkorian: Casinos Trump Cars by Businessweek 2006
Kerkorian Shuffles the MGM Deck by Businessweek 2007
Kerkorian Faces Debt Woes by Businessweek 2009
Kerkorian in the Emerald City by Ralph King Jr
The Strip and The Street by Bernard Condon
Beverly Hills Meets Motown by Time Magazine 1990
Kerkorian, Columbia In Peace Pact by Robert J. Cole
Kerkorian to Seek 20% of Columbia by Robert J. Cole
New UA Will Start As 'Shell Company' by Thomas C. Hayes
Third Time Is Still a Charm for Financier Kerkorian by James Bates
The MGM Grand Hotel, which opened in December 1973, by Chris Chrystal
Timeline: Kirk Kerkorian’s long career of bold investments by LA Times 2015
Kerkorian and MGM, Off Again by Frank Ahrens
Ted Turner: Back from the Brink by Stratford P. Sherman
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43:15
#8 Kirk Kerkorian: Lord of Leisure
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers podcast, where we decode the strategies of investing legends.
Today, we're diving into the early career of Kirk Kerkorian, a self-made billionaire who rose from humble beginnings to reshape Las Vegas and Hollywood.
We'll explore the pivotal moves that set Kerkorian on his path to fortune, from his daring aviation ventures to his first forays into the casino business.
Join us for an inspiring journey through the formative years of one of America's most intriguing tycoons.
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Links:
International Hotel Ad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westgate_Las_Vegas#/media/File:International_Hotel_advertisement.jpg
Alix Pasquet Presentation: https://youtu.be/YMmjbHAHdNU?si=kKyvFOBg6jcsRpeL
Sources:
Kerkorian: An American Success Story by Dial Torgerson
The Airline Industry by William M. Leary
The Only Way to Fly: The Story of Western Airlines, America’s Senior Air Carrier by Robert J Serling
Third Try at the Club by David McClintick
How It All Came Apart In the Eurodollar Market by Lewis Beman
Kirk Kerkorian: Friend or Foe? : His Presence in the MGM Deal Receives Mixed Reviews by Michael A. Hiltzik
Entrepreneurs: The High Ride on Free Time by Time Magazine
Kerkorian Doesn’t Want All the Meat off the Bone by Irwin Ross