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“If I ever do that again, punch me in the face.” - Chamath's debt story

April 25, 2026 / 01:06

This episode discusses financial struggles, debt management, and personal experiences with market disruptions. Key topics include a $420 million credit line, risks associated with debt, and the collapse of Credit Suisse.

The guest shares a personal story about facing a significant financial crisis when their assets lost value. They describe the panic of potentially losing hundreds of millions at Credit Suisse during its financial troubles.

Throughout the conversation, the guest reflects on their past rule of avoiding debt and how they violated it, leading to a near-catastrophic situation. They emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes and the dangers of excessive borrowing.

The hosts engage with humor, suggesting they would intervene if the guest ever took on debt again, highlighting the balance between serious topics and lighthearted banter.

TLDR

A guest shares a near-catastrophic financial crisis involving a $420 million credit line and the collapse of Credit Suisse.

Episode

1:06

00:00:00

I've been in debt. I mean, I've had a $420 million credit line, >> and I had a moment where it was

00:00:07

reflexively kind of collapsing inward because the assets that I was using to secure it shrank in value in a moment of

00:00:14

market disruption. I was scrambling. And then at the same time, there was a risk.

00:00:20

It was the worst moment of my professional working life. I had like a couple hundred million dollars sitting

00:00:25

at Credit Swiss and they were about to implode. And so on a weekend I was trying to figure out whether my money

00:00:30

was still there. I had always had this rule, don't have debt, and then I violated it to try to run the number up.

00:00:38

I almost got run over. I almost lost everything. I will never do it again. And if I ever do it again, if you guys

00:00:45

ever hear me do it again, please just come and punch me in the face. >> We will. We've been waiting for an

00:00:50

excuse. >> Can we punch you in the face for other things, too? >> Yeah, absolutely. This is how smart guys

00:00:55

go bankrupt is they take on debt.

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Episode Highlights

A Moment of Crisis
Faced with a $420 million credit line, the speaker's assets collapsed in value during market disruption.
“It was the worst moment of my professional working life.”
@ 00m 20s
April 25, 2026
A Lesson Learned
After nearly losing everything, the speaker vows to never take on debt again.
“I will never do it again.”
@ 00m 38s
April 25, 2026

Episode Quotes

I will never do it again.
“If I ever do that again, punch me in the face.” - Chamath's debt story
Please just come and punch me in the face.
“If I ever do that again, punch me in the face.” - Chamath's debt story

Key Moments

Financial Collapse00:07
Scrambling for Answers00:14
Near Disaster00:38
Humorous Plea00:45