DiscoverMoneywiseA $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo
A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo

A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo

Update: 2025-08-05
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Thinking about selling your company? 24 founders told us what really happens after the wire hits. — joinhampton.com/exit-report


Chuck Yates rode the wildest wealth rollercoaster: $150M up, $82K down, now back at $20M. In oil & gas private equity, he made (and lost) fortunes and never flinched. For Chuck, money’s just part of the story. Mindset is everything.


Here’s what we talk about:

  • How Chuck went from $150M to $82K and why he wasn’t phased
  • What it’s like to build wealth in the high-stakes world of energy PE
  • The absurd economics of buying a plane
  • How he managed to tour with celebrities
  • Why your relationships matter more than your balance sheet
  • The mindset shift that came after divorce, getting fired, and starting over
  • How Chuck accidentally became a podcaster and ended up co-founding an AI startup
  • Why self-worth shouldn't be tied to net worth and how Chuck redefined success on his own terms

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Chapters:

  • (0:00 ) Chuck's Bold Introduction
  • (3:01 ) Living Comfortably with $20 Million
  • (3:25 ) The Rise in Private Equity
  • (6:36 ) Early Career and Entry into Energy
  • (10:41 ) The Wild World of Oil & Gas
  • (13:12 ) Personal Life Changes and Divorce
  • (13:46 ) The Van Halen Plane Era
  • (22:50 ) Getting Fired and Hitting Bottom
  • (31:22 ) The Comeback: Digital Wildcatters and AI
  • (35:52 ) Life Philosophy and Values


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

  • Founder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.
  • Co-parents a cow named Eliza.
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A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo

A $150M Ride: Private Equity, Planes, & a $1M Butt Tattoo

Hampton