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The Playbook With David Meltzer

From Bar Mitzvah to Billionaire: David Adelman’s Journey

The Playbook With David Meltzer

David Meltzer, Entrepreneur.com

Careers, Entrepreneurship, Business

4.91.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 October 2023

⏱️ 22 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today's episode is from a conversation with David Adelman, CEO of Campus Apartments, co-founder and vice chairman of FS Investments, and founder of Darco Capital. I explore Adelman's unique entrepreneurial journey, beginning with a pivotal experience at age 11, which led to his first investment in real estate at 13 using his Bar Mitzvah money. Adelman shares invaluable insights about learning to listen more, the importance of relationships in investments, and his ability to manage multiple projects, acknowledging his weaknesses and leveraging others' strengths. We delve into his current massive project, an arena that promises significant job creation, and discuss the alignment of vision in partnerships.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is Entrepreneurs the Playbook.

0:02.6

For each week, I bring you some of the greatest athletes, celebrities, and entrepreneurs

0:07.9

to talk about their personal and professional playbook to success.

0:12.1

This is Dave Meltzer with Entrepreneurs the Playbook in every once in a while.

0:16.4

There's an entrepreneur that just hits me in my heart.

0:19.9

And I don't get jealous or envious, but I certainly admire this person.

0:24.7

David Aillmann, he is the amazing CEO of Campus Apartments,

0:28.8

co-founder and vice chairman of FS Investments and Founder of Darkle Capital,

0:33.8

but much, much more as you'll find out, welcome David to the Playbook.

0:38.6

David, thanks for having me.

0:40.1

All right, I got to start with what we were talking about previously.

0:43.1

I, you know, coming from my family where the fetus wasn't fully developed

0:47.2

till after graduate school.

0:49.2

My brother went to Harvard, Harvard Biochem major, and ends up being a rabbi,

0:54.6

speaks six languages, has a PhD in social ethics.

0:58.5

Other brother went to Wharton.

1:00.2

I'm the only one that didn't go to the Ivy League in as much as that's

1:04.2

disappointing to my mom.

1:05.6

I did okay, but I have never met someone that has parlayed the Bar Mitzvah money

1:10.8

as well as you.

1:11.9

And so I was hoping you could tell me at such a young age, 13,

1:17.5

how you became a self-made entrepreneur and where you put that $2,000 Bar Mitzvah

...

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