Sam Kroonenburg built a company from his bedroom, with him and his brother Ryan both making about $500 million. But Sam, 40, is doing what he can to avoid the trappings of wealth.

Further reading:

Aussie who sold cloud start-up for $2b jumps on AI for ads

Young Rich Lister says more founders should take cash off the table

Sam Kroonenburg built a company from his bedroom, with him and his brother Ryan both making about $500 million. But Sam, 40, is doing what he can to avoid the trappings of wealth.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/aussie-who-sold-cloud-start-up-for-2b-jumps-on-ai-for-ads-20240718-p5jurx">Aussie who sold cloud start-up for $2b jumps on AI for ads</a>
<a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/young-rich-lister-says-more-founders-should-take-cash-off-the-table-20220513-p5al87">Young Rich Lister says more founders should take cash off the table</a>

Sam Kroonenburg’s success is only possible because of his wife

After deciding working at Legal Aid wasn’t the career for him, Kerry Harmanis applied to an art school. He was rejected and turned to prospecting in WA. It was a journey that led to the $3.1 billion sale of Jubilee Mines right as nickel prices peaked.

After deciding working at Legal Aid wasn’t the career for him, Kerry Harmanis applied to an art school. He was rejected and turned to prospecting in WA. It was a journey that led to the $3.1 billion sale of Jubilee Mines right as nickel prices peaked.

How exquisite timing helped Kerry Harmanis forge a fortune

Paul Blackburne built a property company that in 2016 land him on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated $536 million fortune. He’s also seen other people make lots of money and says there’s a success trap entrepreneurs need to be mindful of.

Paul Blackburne built a property company that in 2016 land him on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated $536 million fortune. He’s also seen other people make lots of money and says there’s a success trap entrepreneurs need to be mindful of.

Paul Blackburne: Why cars, boats and houses won’t make you happy

Richard White wanted to be a rock and roll star. He ended up developing software for companies in the logistics industry. In 1994 he founded Wise Tech Global and is now the 11th wealthiest person in Australia.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

Richard White wanted to be a rock and roll star. He ended up developing software for companies in the logistics industry. In 1994 he founded Wise Tech Global and is now the 11th wealthiest person in Australia.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</a>

Why Richard White avoids risk at all costs

How a back of the napkin plan put fitness star Steph Claire Smith on the Young Rich List.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

How a back of the napkin plan put fitness star Steph Claire Smith on the Young Rich List.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</a>

Steph Claire Smith’s top tips to building a social media empire

Mark Woodland was expanding his education start-up before realising he’d overlooked a critical component for its success. He had to fix it, even if it meant a bunch of staff walked out the door.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

Mark Woodland was expanding his education start-up before realising he’d overlooked a critical component for its success. He had to fix it, even if it meant a bunch of staff walked out the door.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</a>

Mark Woodland: From Maccas to building a $100m company with zero qualifications

Serial entrepreneur Nick Bell sits down with Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his latest business venture, which aims to help people live longer. He also details his recent trip to Mexico, where he spent $700,000 on injections to alter his genes.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

Serial entrepreneur Nick Bell sits down with Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his latest business venture, which aims to help people live longer. He also details his recent trip to Mexico, where he spent $700,000 on injections to alter his genes.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</a>

Nick Bell's first business flopped, his next made him millions

In this week's episode, Precision Group founder Shaun Bonétt chats to Julie-anne Sprague about becoming one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. A journey that went from home schooling to buying his first shopping centre at just 24 years of age.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

In this week's episode, Precision Group founder Shaun Bonétt chats to Julie-anne Sprague about becoming one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. A journey that went from home schooling to buying his first shopping centre at just 24 years of age.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</a>

Shaun Bonétt: The homeschooled billionaire who built a fortune before turning 40

How I Made It is back for a 4th season and this time we're giving you can chance to ask a Rich Lister a question yourself. 

Are you building a company and want to scale up, do you want advice on funding your growth or have you just got an idea and you want to know what to do next, well here is your opportunity. Send a question to howimadeit@afr.com and we’ll get a Rich Lister to help you. 

Episodes drop fortnightly starting with our first episode on April 22.

This podcast is sponsored by Commbank.

How I Made It is back for a 4th season and this time we're giving you can chance to ask a Rich Lister a question yourself. 
Are you building a company and want to scale up, do you want advice on funding your growth or have you just got an idea and you want to know what to do next, well here is your opportunity. Send a question to <a href="mailto:howimadeit@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> and we’ll get a Rich Lister to help you. 
Episodes drop fortnightly starting with our first episode on April 22.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/">Commbank</a>.

Coming soon: How I Made It season 4

His parents moved to Australia with just $90 to their name, raising their young family in a housing commission flat in Melbourne. It was there Ruslan Kogan honed his selling skills, making a buck selling golf balls and washing cars. He’s now worth about $300 million after creating online retailer Kogan.com.

His parents moved to Australia with just $90 to their name, raising their young family in a housing commission flat in Melbourne. It was there Ruslan Kogan honed his selling skills, making a buck selling golf balls and washing cars. He’s now worth about $300 million after creating online retailer Kogan.com.

Summer Series: From golf balls to 1c TVs - how Ruslan Kogan built a $300m empire from $0

Building wealth from the ground up: How I Made It is a fortnightly podcast featuring stories from inside the Australian Financial Review's Rich List.

Building wealth from the ground up: How I Made It is a fortnightly podcast featuring stories from inside the Australian Financial Review's Rich List.

How I Made It

Social links:

Follow the podcast:

52 clip(s)