How Patrick Bet-David Built Two Nine-Figure Businesses From Scratch.
The route from chaos and omnipresent danger growing up in Iran to becoming a self-made global brand — that tens of millions consider the preeminent voice for information and education based on the foundation of capitalism and entrepreneurship — has been traveled once. It’s a journey fueled by perseverance, faith, ambition, confidence, support, vision, and, at times, damn good fortune. Patrick Bet-David is the lone navigator of this unlikely trek, which now finds him in the middle of his latest colossal undertaking after conquering the financial services world, pushing Valuetainment into the future with a plan to make it one of the most formidable media companies in the world.
Fans of his “PBD Podcast,” subscribers to the Valuetainment YouTube channel, or attendees of his popular Vault Conference business seminar (Tom Brady was the keynote speaker in 2023, and The Rock joined him in 2024) are captivated by his open and authentic communication style. He churns out content at an almost unequaled volume, generating billions of views on YouTube and social media. He authored two popular business books: “Your Next Five Moves” in 2020, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, and the Amazon Best Seller “Choose Your Enemies Wisely” in 2023. Simon & Schuster just released his new fiction book “The Academy.”
Talk to anyone who knows Bet-David or works for Valuetainment and you’ll learn quickly how essential books and self-education are for him. They are not just a passion, but something embedded in his business DNA. He’s devoured thousands and makes those he finds most impactful required reading for current and future employees. Books are a treasure trove of information for Bet-David, literary gifts from accomplished people he constantly looks to glean knowledge from, so it’s only fitting that one he read decades ago played a role in launching the tidal wave of success that followed.
“I remember years ago, a phenomenal book was written called ‘Accidental Millionaire,’ the story of Steve Jobs by an author who couldn’t stand Steve Jobs. That book was part of the reason I got into the financial industry, which was purely accidental,” Bet-David said, explaining, “I had joined the Army because I needed to get my act together, and when I got out, I wanted to be a bodybuilder.
“I went to Santa Monica Community College, the same place Arnold Schwarzenegger went, and my dream was to be an actor in Hollywood and eventually marry a Kennedy or become a governor. I went to Mr. Olympia to study these guys and see what it takes, and I realized at 6-feet, 5-inches, I was too tall. It could never happen. On the way back, I got a call from a manager at Morgan Stanley, who I was introduced to through a girl I knew who was a financial advisor. I got my first job in the financial industry by accident. And I fell in love with the business.”
Bet-David once needed military structure because he was addicted to action. A frenetic pace and non-stop chase are allies in building a successful business or media company, but that led him down a non-productive and potentially destructive path as a teen. When his service ended, he accidentally discovered something else that changed his life; he found that the rush he felt from the world of finance was similar to the one he had when partying on one of his countless trips chasing fast times in Las Vegas. “I invested $1,000 in Nike stock when I got out of the Army, and that Nike stock went up to $3,000. It was awesome. I couldn’t believe how it happened. But I realized it was the perfect combination for me. I love people. I love numbers, and I love sales, so I let it rip.”
He was ready to take Wall Street by storm, but ironically and tragically, his first corporate gig started on September 10, 2001. The world turned upside down 24 hours later, and so did Bet-David’s career path. From that moment on, he would rely on himself and God, and he embarked on a quarter-century sprint to success that he has yet to slow down from.
He launched his financial services company, PHP, in a non-glamorous San Fernando Valley office park 25 miles and a world away from Hollywood. With the help of his wife, Jennifer, the company grew. Eventually, it had over 50,000 agents, and it was time for the Bet-Davids to find a new home for their expanding family and blossoming business. After 24 years of living there, he left his beloved California, making a tactical decision to plant PHP and expand Valuetainment to the more tax-friendly and centrally located Dallas area.
He launched his podcast out of his office in 2020 and was pleasantly surprised when 50 people found the first broadcast on the YouTube livestream enjoying the mix of commentary and perspectives on news stories, politics, pop culture, and business. Episodes now attract millions of viewers and listeners weekly. His days became a high-wire juggling act, navigating the eventual sale of PHP to Integrity Marketing Group in 2022 for a multiple nine-figure exit, guiding Valuetainment through massive growth, and expanding his reach as one of the most influential and popular content creators in digital media. It was the personification of a turbo-charged rocket ship ride to the American Dream on paper.
Bet-David made his mark on one industry while simultaneously laying a battle plan to attack another. But his meteoric rise had something in common with other game changers who never punch out on their internal time clock. Countless moments of crisis, paralyzing self-doubt, and potentially crippling obstacles that, more often than not, cause many would-be visionaries to tap out.
“I didn’t know what it was to be a CEO. I was a good salesperson. I was an average sales leader, but I had no idea how to run a fricking company,” Bet-David told Jetset. He recounted one harrowing moment in the early days of PHP when things nearly ended before they began. “Jen was pregnant with our first baby. At the same time, I was getting sued and had to pay out a settlement from a lawsuit I was part of with a previous company. The lawsuit would cost me roughly 90% of what I had in the bank account. I was down to my last $13,000, and I remember lying in bed, thinking, ‘Did I do the right thing starting this company?’
“There was another time when we were living in Northridge, and I was making maybe $80,000 because I was not taking any money off the table, and I was looking at Jen lying in bed and asking myself again, ‘Did I mess up?’” he shared. “So many people warned me not to start a company because guys like me don’t make good CEOs. Maybe they were right. Nine years ago was the first time I was comfortable sharing this, and I made a video where I talked about how to deal with anxiety. I spoke about the level of anxiety and panic attacks I had in 2012 and 2013. I had to go to the hospital after multiple panic attacks. I thought I was having a heart attack, but I don’t drink or smoke, so a heart attack didn’t make sense. It was all caused by exhaustion.”
Bet-David leaves nothing to chance. He’s a disciple of data, never wanting to be caught off guard, uninformed, or unprepared. Chaos and crisis are viewed as opportunities and a chance to grow. “In 2014, I read a book that explained the difference between anxiety and depression,” he said. “The psychologist author broke it down. She said, ‘If you’re depressed, you’re spending too much time in the past. If you’re having panic attacks and anxiety, you’re spending too much time in the future.’ That hit me. I knew I was constantly thinking about the future.”
Bet-David said he added an affirmation to his life that has served him well but probably caused anxiety for his competitors and doubters. “It was called ‘Stop Trying to Be God.’ That job is already taken. Whenever I felt anxious, I would think about what I could do in the moment, and the results followed.”
Taking his foot off the gas about worrying about “what’s next” meant freeing himself to focus more on “what’s now.” That led to the stratospheric growth of his businesses. In 2021, he moved his company and family to South Florida and has already outgrown the space.
On the day of the Jetset photo shoot inside his private cigar lounge, not far from the converted bank vault transformed into his podcast studio, work is underway on a sprawling campus near the Fort Lauderdale airport that will soon be the corporate home to his budding empire. It includes a hangar, which will house his gleaming Gulfstream 550 — as much a luxurious, well-earned perk as a necessity for a man on a mission. “For me, it’s the 150-hour rule,” he explained. “When you start traveling 150-plus hours per year, you need a jet. That’s when the numbers start working in your favor. And we’re now at a place where I’m intentionally here in Florida because I can go to Dallas, I can go to the West Coast, I can go to the Bahamas, or Mexico, or Europe. I can go to New York.”
Bet-David has good reasons to point his G-5 to New York. He spent a chunk of the summer with his family in the Hamptons, loves being there, and is looking to purchase a house. And he can check up on one of his other winning investments: the New York Yankees. The backstory is incredible. He’s looked to become a minority owner in a professional sports team and to become a majority owner one day. He’s had opportunities, but one of the caveats was a requirement to sign an NDA. “I said I’m not signing any NDAs unless the ownership of a team has to do with the Lakers, the Dodgers., or the Yankees.”
Months later, he received a call; his signature was needed for an NDA. An elderly friend of George Steinbrenner was looking to unload his minority share, and Bet-David pounced. Months went by. It was past a year with no movement, and Bet-David was sure it wasn’t happening because of his vocal political views. Then, he was summoned to Yankee Stadium.
A renowned and leading vintage card collector, the closest Bet-David had come to baseball immortality was owning several rare Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth cards. In a room with top Yankee brass, Bet-David asked them one question: “I am very loud politically, and I’m gonna get louder, and I need to know if you are going to tell me I can’t say certain things because I’m telling you right now, I won’t listen. Will that be a problem?” The top decision-makers for the Yanks assured Bet-David they would never try to dictate how he runs his business or control what he says. However, there was one thing they wanted their potential new partner to understand about their corporate culture. They said, “We have one team rule here: Hal’s (Steinbrenner) the boss.”
For someone who once questioned his ability to be a boss, Bet-David has positioned himself as a prominent influencer heading into and past the Presidential election, and he has zero concern if he loses advertisers. Why would he? He recently halted outside ad dollars in favor of only promoting products under his umbrella of companies.
Bet-David’s interviews tend to turn into news stories. He was the person who questioned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about his height shortly before a firestorm erupted and he faded out of the Presidential race. He’s interviewed Mafia leaders, flown to Romania to speak with Andrew Tate, and listened to Dan Bilzerian essentially cancel himself on an episode of his podcast. Shortly after a 90-minute sit-down with Dwayne Johnson at his Vault Conference, Bet-David said his radar is locked in on getting a sit-down with Vladimir Putin, and it’s most likely not a matter of if but when.
Watching his interview with Kobe Bryant, you’ll note his innate ability to create an environment where guests intuitively let their guard down. He carved a niche as a top interviewer because of his natural curiosity and preparation. Still, he also understands that making someone squirm and not becoming too comfortable is the recipe for compelling content. The ultimate get for Bet-David has and always will be Michael Jordan. If he wanted to speak to another sports GOAT, all he would have to do is open the door of his house and yell to his neighbor: soccer legend Lionel Messi.
“The American Dream” is a phrase that has been taken for granted by many, scorned by the ungrateful, and mocked by the ignorant. If you are asked for its definition and can’t find the words to describe it, tell the person to Google the guy on the cover of this issue of Jetset, and they can see what it looks like.