Inside the $30M Exit of a Socialist Buddhist

Moneywise

Hampton

Business, Entrepreneurship, Investing

4.8 • 674 Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you're a founder doing at least $3M/year in sales, check out Hampton: https://www.joinhampton.com/. Chris Cooke is a socialist Buddhist who sold his company for $30 million… then blew most of it on a weed farm, a beach house, and a comedy club in Thailand. Here’s what we talk about: How Chris accidentally “won” capitalism—despite deeply skeptical views of money What happens when your values, ego, and bank account collide Why he spent nearly his entire fortune in six months—and doesn’t regret it The real estate investments that unintentionally saved him from going broke How Buddhist detachment helped him take huge risks—and make millions Why giving money to friends was harder than it sounds (and cost him relationships) How he's now building a business focused on sustainability, not just growth The real meaning of success for a Buddhist entrepreneur Cool Links: Hampton – Join the Founder Community https://www.joinhampton.com/ Lower Street – Podcast Production https://www.lowerstreet.co/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction: The Paradox of a Capitalist Buddhist (03:23) Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit (06:01) Building and Growing a SaaS Business (11:41) The Decision to Sell and Its Aftermath (17:26) Spending the Fortune: Investments and Losses (22:05) The Comedy Club and Financial Struggles (25:49) Lifestyle Changes and Generosity (27:07) The Downside of Lending Money to Friends (29:56) Reflections on Wealth and Happiness (30:54) The Rollercoaster of Post-Exit Life (36:44) Buddhist Values and Business Success (40:12) Current Financial Situation and Future Plans (44:11) Conclusion and Final Thoughts 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 Founded and runs Lower Street, the leading branded podcast production service in the world. Hampton Member.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I don't have imposter syndrome. I am an imposter.
0:05.3	Chris Cook is a capitalist Buddhist. He also sold his company for $30 million. And then promptly
0:11.1	blew most of it on a weed farm, a beach house and a comedy club in Thailand, among other things.
0:15.9	If you're already feeling like that doesn't really make sense, well, then good.
0:18.8	You're in for one hell of a story because it's not just about money, it's about what happens when your ego, your values,
0:24.6	and your bank account all collide.
0:26.7	This is more money than I ever thought I'd make in my life. This is incredible.
0:30.6	And I just gambled it all. I'm very comfortable with the paradox. I'm very comfortable
0:35.2	with the contradiction. That's not going to get me out of this out.
0:38.3	Now I'm confessing all my flaws and sins.
0:41.3	I'm a flawed Buddhist.
0:46.3	I'm Harry Morton, and this is MoneyWise.
0:48.3	A podcast not about how to make money, but how your life changes after you already have.
0:52.3	And this is the insane story of what
0:54.8	happens when a socialist Buddhist becomes a millionaire and what we can all learn from his very
1:00.1	unique and frankly inspiring story. And really quick, this is a podcast for Hampton, a private
1:05.3	members community for founders, CEOs, high net worth individuals where we're having conversations
1:10.0	exactly like the one I had here with Chris
1:11.8	that typically only happen in private.
1:14.1	And my favourite thing about it is that there's such a range of folks in there,
1:17.2	people that are VC-backed tech people, bootstrap founders,
1:20.5	and people like Chris who just frankly have very, very different stories
	...

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