logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
1h 31m

E091 - I Made BILLIONS With This Simple ...

Mike Thurston
About this episode

Grant Cardone, real estate master and founder of 10X, joins the show for an honest breakdown of his journey from addiction and failure to billion-dollar success. It’s easy to assume his rise was all confidence and sales mastery—but Grant admits he would’ve skipped sales entirely and gone straight to marketing and investing.


From sleeping on couches to building a $5B portfolio, he shares what really changed the game: going 10x bigger in every direction. Whether you love him or hate him, this episode is a masterclass in thinking long-term, building resilience, and playing offense.


  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 04:18 Grant’s decade of drug use and the harsh realities of addiction
  • 08:26 The childhood moment that shaped his view of money
  • 12:11 How Grant treats money and the importance of financial respect
  • 14:35 Discovering the power of improving sales skills
  • 17:13 Borrowing $3,000 to invest in himself after rehab
  • 20:59 Studying sales obsessively and becoming a master through teaching
  • 24:30 Choosing the wrong lane early on and staying small for too long
  • 28:26 From fired car salesman to training the auto industry
  • 34:35 First big real estate move and building passive income
  • 38:01 Why real estate gave him peace compared to rejection-heavy sales
  • 41:00 How to turn criticism and hate into fuel
  • 46:07 The myth of social media comments and clickbait haters
  • 51:00 How to build unshakable trust
  • 54:09 The key reason why the 2008 crash sparked the 10x mindset
  • 56:54 Going from $2M/year to nearly $1B/year through bold expansion
  • 58:00 Business conflicts, lawsuits, and lessons on who to fight
  • 1:06:34 Building a bank and changing the financial system
  • 1:09:07 Longevity secrets and 10x Health System
  • 1:13:05 Discipline, overeating, and stacking small daily habits
  • 1:17:04 Raising kids with contracts, income, and real-world accountability
  • 1:22:11 Teaching kids confidence through work and communication
  • 1:27:05 Letting go of dying partnerships
  • 1:29:16 Why stopping unhealthy habits is the ultimate hack


» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life:
https://www.digitalplaybook.net/

» Transform your physique:
https://www.thrstapp.com/

» My clothing brand, THRST:
https://thrstofficial.com

» Custom Bioniq supplements:
https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/

» Join WHOOP and get your first month for free:
join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Grant:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantcardone
Website: https://grantcardone.com/

Up next
Nov 20
E117 - Why I Deleted Everything & Started Again: Leana Deeb's Modesty Journey
<p>» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship &amp; cognitive optimisation<br>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/ha ... Show More
1h 26m
Nov 13
E116 - You're NOT Lazy: My System To Build Relentless Discipline & Toughness |Adam Radcliffe
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Adam Radcliffe sailed from the US to the UK in ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 6
E115 - How To Actually Get Ahead With AI (Before It’s Too Late) | Dan Martell
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Dan Martell is using AI to replace what used to ... Show More
1h 27m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
15 Years Doing What I Hated… 8-Figure Exit. Worth It?
127 founders (net worth: ~$1M–$100M+) opened up their personal books. Want to see how your finances stack up? https://www.joinhampton.com/wealth-reportHow Ronan Berder accidentally built a consulting agency, scaled it to 8 figures, and sold it, despite never enjoying the work.Her ... Show More
45m 45s
Sep 22
The Secret Art of Finding Work You Love and Funding the Life You Want | Chris Hutchins
Guest: Chris Hutchins, host of All the Hacks Episode theme: Building wealth with meaning—how to design a career (and life) you actually want, while optimizing the money side. What we cover: Meaning > money-first: Chris didn’t start out chasing wealth; he chased options. Early jo ... Show More
40m 55s
Jun 2025
I Let Go of the Hustle. Embraced Feminine Leadership. Built $10M.
127 founders (net worth: ~$1M–$100M+) opened up their personal books. Want to see how your finances stack up? https://www.joinhampton.com/wealth-reportJess Chan scaled to 7 figures fast, then tore it all down. Today, she’s worth ~$10M, spends less than ever, and says profit > rev ... Show More
43m 12s
Aug 2024
Your First Million Is The Hardest (Here is How to Do it!)
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about why your first million is the hardest. How Andrew Can Help You: Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your pathway to a future w ... Show More
40m 29s
Sep 16
$12 Million Exit... Did He Just Get Lucky?
Stop making million dollar decisions alone. Hampton gives you a personal board of eight vetted founders in your city who meet monthly to tackle your hardest problems. Find your group: joinhampton.comDonald Spann built a multi-million dollar call center from scratch — with no outs ... Show More
34m 17s
Jan 2025
How He Built a $1M/Day Brand Through Bold Marketing and Innovation | Rudy Mawer | EP 56
<p>In this episode, Rudy Mawer shares his journey from a fitness entrepreneur to a global branding and marketing powerhouse, generating $1 million a day in revenue and managing $300,000 daily ad spends. He discusses the pivotal role of personal branding, the importance of embraci ... Show More
31m 59s
May 2025
Making Money Online? Here’s What No One Tells You | Dion Pouncil & Brandon Bowsky 💰 EP120
Think making money online is easy? Think again. Dion Pouncil and Brandon Bowsky drop the truth no one else will—real talk on failure, sales, investing, and what it really takes to win online. Don’t miss this raw and unfiltered episode...---Dion Pouncil is a licensed futures trade ... Show More
52m 12s
May 2023
From 300 Ft Shack To Success: The Journey From $0 To Building A 100+ Million Dollar Business Empire w/ Ben Kinney
<p>What does it take to build a business empire worth over a hundred million dollars? Join us as we sit down with the incredibly successful entrepreneur, Ben Kinney, who shares his insights on wealth building, business ownership, and the importance of giving back. From his humble ... Show More
49m 31s
Dec 2024
$1B and Counting: Steve Houghton’s Five Pillars for Living a Truly Wealthy Life
<p>What’s the real cost of building wealth—and how do you stay grounded after achieving it?</p><p>Steve Houghton, a billionaire entrepreneur, has a life philosophy that’s as intentional as his business strategies. From self-made success to crafting a fulfilling personal life, Ste ... Show More
39m 33s
Sep 23
I Chose Fun Over Profit…. And I Regret It
Stop making million dollar decisions alone. Hampton gives you a personal board of eight vetted founders in your city who meet monthly to tackle your hardest problems. Find your group: joinhampton.comJordan Schlipf spent a decade building companies optimized for fun, freedom, and ... Show More
37m 3s