Sam Parr is an entrepreneur and business executive. He is the founder and CEO of The Hustle, a media company that publishes a daily newsletter and produces events and podcasts. He is also the founder of a venture fund and accelerator program called Hustle Fund. Prior to starting The Hustle, Sam co-founded and led a number of other companies and has been known as a strong advocate for the Hustle and Growth Marketing. He is currently the co-host of the My First Million Podcast with Shaan Puri.
Net Worth
Sam aquirred net worth of $22 million by the age of 31, which primarily came from the sale of his news letter "The Hustle" to Hubspot.
How he retired by Age 31 with over 20 Million
While the sale of the hustle is Sam's most public achievement, he has alluded to angel investments, airbnbs, and other investments that are doing well for him, so his net worth could be well north of $22 Million. He has also stated how he plans to make $100 million dollars in the next 10 years.
Sam has been married for 10+ years to his wife Sara. He splits time between Austin and Brooklyn and aspires to live in Brooklyn but often complains about how expensive it would be if he were to FATFire there. Prior to Austin he spent many years in San Francisco and speaks to value of the Entruepenurial spirit of the bay area. His wife Sara was an earlier employee at AirBNB and made her first Million on their IPO a few months prior to Sam making his first Million.
Sam Parr is being interviewed by Hasan Minhaj on a podcast.
Sam apologizes for not responding to messages due to being busy.
Hasan Minhaj shared a story about Sam leaving him on read in DMs.
Sam tells a funny story about mistaking someone for Hassan in person.
Sam talks about feeling like a redneck from Missouri and being comfortable with success despite feeling out of place.
Sam recalls meeting successful people who shared their insecurities, demystifying success for him.
Sam mentions meeting his hero Lance Armstrong and realizing even famous people have insecurities.
Sam talks about wanting to ask Ted Turner about the worth of sacrificing family for business success.
Sam believes his sacrifices have been worth it, but he didn't make major sacrifices as his family was supportive.
Sam discusses his early ventures, including his first blog "anti-mba."
Sam mentions other project ideas like a hot dog stand, a bunk/roommate concept, and a juice business.
Sam considers these ideas mostly crazy and silly.
Anti MBA, Big Cities, Sports, Ariel Helwani
Sam Parr discusses the success of his content venture, reaching millions of readers daily.
He talks about how it all started with his blog "Anti MBA," which led to meeting influential people.
Sam moved to San Francisco from Tennessee, started a book club, and connected with experts.
He created the "Anti MBA" to counter his insecurity about Ivy League graduates and to form his own network.
Sam reflects on his experiences growing up in a smaller town and then moving to bigger cities like San Francisco and New York.
He gained confidence over the last two years, feeling capable of keeping up with successful individuals.
Sam relates his athletic background, particularly in track and field, to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of consistent practice.
Sam mentions being a fan of UFC and his admiration for Ariel Helwani, who he was nervous to talk to on his podcast.
Sam explains that he's more nervous around fellow interviewers as they may notice his mistakes.
He admires people who come from humble beginnings and achieve success, like Ariel Helwani.
Sam reflects on his own journey and the impact of his experiences on his podcast and interactions with guests.
Cross Country Motorcycle Trip, Seeking New Experiences, How to Manifest
Sam Parr discusses his intentional pursuit of various experiences that make him an interesting person.
He recalls going on a cross-country motorcycle trip and realizing small-town living and a traditional 9-to-5 job weren't for him.
Sam's intentional seeking of excitement led him to start the "Hustle Con" conference and a new startup.
He emphasizes the fun in pursuing unique experiences and living out his version of the American dream.
Sam shares his approach to manifesting goals, setting quarterly and annual targets, and leaving room for spontaneous activities.
He explains his impulsive nature and how he quickly acts on inspiration, often booking classes or experiences immediately.
Sam acknowledges that while most of his impulsive actions have been positive, some ventures have turned out negative.
He values the lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful endeavors and doesn't mind quitting if something doesn't energize him.
Quitting, Energy, Austin/NYC, Becoming Sober, Almost hired at AirBNB, Chip on Shoulder
Sam Parr talks about quitting pursuits that don't give him energy, like racing cars after three classes.
He shares his perspective on energy and how it guides his choices.
Sam describes his current living arrangement, spending 4 months in New York City and the rest in Austin.
He recommends this arrangement for those who can afford it, mentioning the financial aspects.
Sam recounts his decision to become sober in 2012 after multiple arrests and struggles with alcohol.
He explains how he secured a job interview with Joe Gebbia, the founder of Airbnb, through an email hack.
Sam reflects on the rejection from Airbnb and Uber interviews and how he uses rejection as motivation.
He mentions specific individuals, like his ex-girlfriends and a journalist, whose rejections fueled his drive.
Sam mentions journalist Nellie Bowles, who dismissed his offer to freelance for The Hustle.
He brings up the names of other journalists, including Sid Finch, Steph Woodfield, and Steve Garcia.
Early Hustle Days, Copythat, Hypnotherapy, Ross Ulbricht
Sam Parr discusses the early days of The Hustle and how it initially started as a blog.
He used outrageous stunts like living on Soylent and creating fictional characters like "Steph Whitfield" and "Steve Garcia" to generate controversy and interest.
Sam used the copywork technique, where he hand-copied famous writing pieces, to improve his writing skills.
He describes how hypnotherapy with Grace Smith has helped him control cravings and fears.
Sam briefly mentions his connection to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road, who got arrested in his neighborhood.
He talks about his introduction to Bitcoin through a friend whose father was Tim Draper, a billionaire investor.
Sam clarifies his stance on crypto, emphasizing the importance of building profitable businesses.
Crypto, Craigslist Office, Manifestation of $20m by 30
Sam Parr discusses his perspective on technology and crypto, stating he doesn't fully understand it and sometimes feels inadequate in grasping complex concepts.
He emphasizes his preference for focusing on practical and profitable ventures over jumping into trendy technologies.
Sam mentions his money-making goals, like achieving $20 million by the age of 30, which he based on practical calculations of living expenses and investment growth.
He advises the importance of focusing on one thing for an extended period to achieve better results than constantly jumping between projects.
Sam reflects on the early days of The Hustle, recalling its scrappy nature, challenges, and the excitement of building a business.
He talks about the experience of working in the Craigslist office space and the camaraderie of starting something from scratch.
Sam touches on his concept of "doing epic [__]” and mentions taking his parents to Europe as an epic experience.
He shares a recent fun activity he engaged in: clamming with Native American friends on a reservation in the Hamptons.
Sam highlights the balance between tech-heavy work and the value of connecting with nature, mentioning his purchase of a ranch in Texas that he turned into an Airbnb.
Online Life Balance, Getting Fit, Meeting Shaan Puri, Successful People
Sam Parr discusses his preference for spending less time in front of screens and his desire to balance online and offline activities.
He mentions his strategy for achieving this balance, including hosting calls outdoors and exercising regularly.
Sam talks about his journey towards improving his physical health and body through healthy eating and exercise.
He shares his experience with a coaching service called "My Body Tutor," which provides daily guidance on diet and exercise.
The conversation transitions to Sam and Sean Puri's meeting and friendship, which started when Sam asked to use Sean's office space for an event.
Sam reflects on the traits of successful people he has met, highlighting that many of them are unconventional, intense, high-energy, and honest.
He notes that many successful individuals have unique and sometimes eccentric habits.
Sam concludes by addressing the similarities he's observed among successful people, mainly intensity, weirdness, honesty, and high energy.
Sam's Weird Habits, Psychedelics, Getting Knocked Out
Sam Parr shares his eccentric habits, such as giving homemade tattoos and avoiding interactions with strangers.
He explains his discomfort with talking to people, even in simple situations like ordering food or asking for help.
Sam discusses the power of connecting with strangers and how it can boost confidence, but he still struggles with it.
He addresses the use of psychedelics by successful individuals to find meaning and inner peace, suggesting that some may benefit from focusing on family and caring for others.
Sam reflects on the importance of facing adversity and challenges, including his interest in combat sports like boxing.
He acknowledges that despite challenges, the current era offers numerous advantages, and he wouldn't trade it for any other time.
Sam discusses the concept of a modern-day version of cigarettes, suggesting that social media and driving are two potential candidates.
Modern Cigarettes, Big Restaurant Energy, Meeting his Wife, More Successful People
Sam Parr discusses the concept of modern "cigarettes" and how certain behaviors that are currently considered normal might be viewed as barbaric in the future.
He reflects on the potential future shifts in practices, such as the dangers of driving at high speeds on one-lane roads and the advancements in medical testing for detecting illnesses early.
Sam talks about his respect for individuals who set goals and become the best at their chosen pursuits, whether it's making money, creating art, excelling in sports, or achieving mastery in other fields.
He emphasizes that success is about becoming a certain type of person and achieving personal goals, not just about accumulating wealth.
Sam shares stories about meeting his wife and how he used unique approaches to strike up conversations with strangers, especially women, by adopting a confident "restaurant owner energy."
He expresses his admiration for individuals who pursue their craft with dedication and passion, even if it doesn't involve making a lot of money, and cites examples like comedian Hasan Minhaj and cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Sam discusses the dichotomy between emotional health and success, noting that many successful people he knows have an intense drive fueled by anxiety and extreme personalities.
On Criminal Behavior, The Right Spouse, Asking Questions
Sam discusses the impracticality of pursuing criminal activities due to the difficulty of getting away with it in today's digital age and his realization that taking shortcuts often leads to longer routes.
He shares his thoughts on luck playing a role in picking the right spouse, and highlights the importance of avoiding resentment in relationships.
Sam describes his wife as emotionally stable and capable of handling tasks he finds challenging, like taxes and following instructions, which creates a complementary dynamic.
He emphasizes the value of open communication and transparency in relationships, discussing shared life goals and priorities early on.
Sam reflects on his journey of self-awareness, recognizing his strengths and weaknesses and learning from both successes and mistakes.
He mentions his confidence in understanding what he's good at and what he's not, which has influenced his approach to new ventures and hiring.
Sam talks about his evolving perspectives on business and personal goals as he gained more experience, including realizing the importance of quality over quantity in team dynamics.
Less is More, America, 80-year-old Sam's advice to Present Day Sam
Sam reflects on the concept of "less is more" and how he finds happiness in owning fewer material possessions and focusing on experiences rather than extravagant purchases.
He shares his perspective on renting versus owning, emphasizing that he prefers to rent and avoid the burdens of ownership, citing practicality, flexibility, and freedom as driving factors.
Sam discusses the controversial nature of topics such as crypto, web 3.0, psychedelics, and the belief in the potential for upward mobility in America.
He expresses his optimism about America, attributing it to the country's history, adaptability, and default tendency towards optimism, comparing it to other cultures that might be less optimistic.
Sam offers advice that his 80-year-old self would give to his present self, focusing on taking care of his body, being more present with family, and creating a lifestyle that fosters strong connections with loved ones.