Good Bad Billionaire Returns: BBC Podcast Puts World’s Richest Under Public Judgment
The global fascination with billionaires is far from over — and the BBC World Service is ready to fan the flames once again. The critically acclaimed podcast Good Bad Billionaire is back with a brand-new season, diving deep into the triumphs, controversies, and contradictions of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
This time, however, there’s a twist: listeners themselves will decide whether the billionaires featured are “good,” “bad,” or simply another example of capitalism’s complex elite.
Hosted by BBC Business Editor Simon Jack and journalist–author Zing Tsjeng, Good Bad Billionaire has built a reputation for cutting through the glitz and PR polish to reveal the real people behind the billions. Each episode is a masterclass in storytelling, analysis, and debate — asking one simple but profound question:
Does wealth automatically equate to virtue, or does the path to riches always come with a price?
What Makes This Season Different
The 2025 season of Good Bad Billionaire ups the stakes by inviting audience participation. For the first time, listeners can cast their verdicts, adding a democratic layer to the podcast’s signature mix of research and reflection.
Simon Jack explains the approach:
“We’ve got some quite divisive figures this season. The listener reactions so far have been fascinating — they reveal not just how people see billionaires, but what they value in success itself.”
A Star-Packed Line-Up: From Arnie to the Snapchat Generation
The new season’s line-up is a global mix of celebrity billionaires, self-made entrepreneurs, and controversial industry leaders. Among the featured figures:
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Hollywood icon, fitness mogul, and former California governor, whose empire extends from bodybuilding to real estate and philanthropy.
Evan Spiegel – The youthful co-founder of Snapchat, representing the modern tech billionaire who changed communication forever.
Sara Blakely – Founder of Spanx, who turned $5,000 in savings into a multibillion-dollar shapewear empire.
Tatyana Kim – Russia’s richest woman and first self-made female billionaire, who went from classroom teacher to corporate powerhouse.
Diane Hendricks – A construction magnate whose story challenges gender stereotypes in the male-dominated building industry.
Ronnie Screwvala – Indian media entrepreneur and philanthropist who built one of Bollywood’s biggest media networks before turning to edtech and social ventures.
This diverse selection highlights how wealth is being redefined across gender, geography, and industry.
Spotlight on Women Billionaires
One of this season’s most notable themes is the rise of female billionaires who shattered glass ceilings in male-dominated arenas.
Co-host Zing Tsjeng, editor-in-chief and author, expressed her enthusiasm:
“This season’s stories are extraordinary — from Tatyana Kim’s journey from teacher to billionaire to Sara Blakely’s revolution in fashion. I’m especially proud that we’re telling so many women’s stories this time.”
The inclusion of Hendricks, Blakely, and Kim brings balance to a world often dominated by male narratives of power and wealth, making the podcast both relevant and refreshing in its perspective.
A Format Designed for Engagement
Each episode follows a narrative structure that traces a billionaire’s trajectory from humble beginnings to global dominance, with an in-depth look at:
Origins and upbringing – What shaped their early ambitions?
Breakthrough moments – The pivotal decisions that catapulted them to wealth.
Controversies – Scandals, lawsuits, or ethical debates surrounding their success.
Philanthropy and legacy – Are they giving back, or giving excuses?
Listener verdicts – The public’s final say: Good, Bad, or Just Billionaire?
The audience-driven element turns what was once a listening experience into an interactive debate, reflecting society’s growing interest in wealth ethics and inequality.
Why Billionaires Still Fascinate Us
Whether admired or resented, billionaires hold an outsized place in modern storytelling. They are symbols of ambition and excess, often representing both the promise and the pitfalls of capitalism.
Shows like Good Bad Billionaire resonate because they explore these contradictions head-on:
Can immense wealth ever be ethical?
Does success justify exploitation?
How much responsibility do billionaires have toward society?
By asking these uncomfortable questions, the podcast offers a global mirror — reflecting our collective obsession with money, influence, and morality.
The Hosts: Sharp Minds Behind the Mic
Simon Jack
As BBC’s Business Editor, Jack brings decades of experience covering finance, economics, and corporate leadership. His analytical perspective adds credibility and insight to every episode.
Zing Tsjeng
An award-winning journalist and the author of Forgotten Women, Tsjeng injects cultural awareness and sharp feminist commentary into the series. Together, the pair balance financial expertise with human empathy, making complex stories accessible to all listeners.
A Truly Global Conversation
Unlike most business podcasts that cater primarily to Western audiences, Good Bad Billionaire has an international lens. It delves into stories from Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Moscow, Mumbai, and beyond, showing how different cultures create — and judge — wealth.
This global approach not only broadens listener appeal but also sparks cross-cultural discussions about privilege, opportunity, and accountability in the billionaire class.
Listener Verdicts: Power in the Hands of the Audience
This season’s biggest innovation is listener participation. Through polls, social media interactions, and BBC Sounds feedback channels, the audience can now help determine how each billionaire is classified.
Will Arnie’s environmental activism outweigh his political controversies? Will Evan Spiegel’s youthful innovation trump criticisms of tech addiction? Can a Russian billionaire like Tatyana Kim inspire admiration despite the nation’s wealth inequalities?
The verdicts are already shaping future episodes — and the debates are heating up.
Release Details: How and Where to Listen
First episode drops:6 October 2025
Frequency: New episodes released weekly
Available on: BBC Sounds, all major podcast platforms, and BBC Podcasts Premium on Apple Podcasts
Exclusive perk: International listeners can hear episodes a week early with BBC Podcasts Premium subscription.
Why “Good Bad Billionaire” Is More Relevant Than Ever
In an age of extreme inequality — where the top 1% control more wealth than half the planet — this podcast arrives at the perfect moment. It doesn’t glorify billionaires; it dissects them, examining how their choices ripple across industries, economies, and ordinary lives.
The show’s enduring success lies in its balanced approach: it neither vilifies nor worships. Instead, it invites listeners to think critically about what it means to be rich, responsible, and human.
Final Thoughts: Billionaires Under the Microscope
With its mix of sharp journalism, global reach, and audience interactivity, Good Bad Billionaire continues to redefine business storytelling for a new era. As the lines between “good” and “bad” blur in the world of extreme wealth, the podcast reminds us that every fortune has a story — and every story deserves a fair trial.
