CO-HOST | Make Money by Building Billion-Dollar Businesses Like Tillman Fertitta

CO-HOST | Make Money by Building Billion-Dollar Businesses Like Tillman Fertitta

Tillman Fertitta is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in hospitality, gaming, and entertainment. As the owner of the Houston Rockets, the Golden Nugget casinos, and the Landry’s restaurant empire, Fertitta has built billions in value through disciplined operations, strategic acquisitions, and a relentless focus on customer experience. In this episode, Travis and Eric break down Fertitta’s reported acquisition of Caesars Entertainment and explore the business principles that have fueled his extraordinary success. On this episode we talk about: * Tillman Fertitta’s reported $17.6 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment * How Fertitta built a multi-billion-dollar empire without traditional venture capital funding * The importance of operational excellence in hospitality and entertainment businesses * Why customer experience and financial discipline drive long-term growth * The evolution of Las Vegas tourism and the changing economics of the Strip Top 3 Takeaways 1. Great operators win across industries. Fertitta’s success demonstrates that strong business fundamentals can be applied from restaurants to sports franchises to casinos. 2. Customer experience matters. Businesses that forget what originally attracted customers risk losing them when prices rise and value declines. 3. Ownership creates opportunity. Building and maintaining control of successful businesses can create the capital needed to pursue increasingly ambitious acquisitions. Notable Quotes * "Tillman Fertitta is one of the most impressive business people I've ever talked to." * "He understands the principles of operating a good business where the customer gets a good experience and the business makes a good profit." * "Money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems with money in the bank." Connect with Travis Chappell: * Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell * Website: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com [http://www.fanvue.com/] today and launch your career! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis [http://gohighlevel.com/travis] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

INTERVIEW | Make Money Through Business Acquisitions with Saul Cohen

Saul Cohen is an accountant, acquisitions advisor, and entrepreneur who helps business owners scale, optimize, and successfully exit their companies. With experience at PwC and years of advising founders on tax planning, acquisitions, and valuations, Saul has developed a practical framework for helping entrepreneurs build long-term wealth. In this episode, he shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, why execution matters more than ideas, and how acquisitions can become a powerful wealth-building strategy for business owners. On this episode we talk about: * Why execution is more valuable than having a great business idea * Lessons learned from building and selling a business while still in university * The realities of working at PwC and transitioning into entrepreneurship * How tax planning, acquisitions, and business valuations impact long-term wealth * Why entrepreneurs should understand acquisitions before preparing for an exit Top 3 Takeaways 1. Ideas are only valuable when paired with execution. Success rarely comes from having the best idea—it comes from consistently executing better than everyone else. 2. Small financial optimizations compound into life-changing results. Even modest tax savings or valuation improvements can create significant wealth over a business owner's lifetime. 3. Understanding acquisitions makes you a better entrepreneur. Whether you're buying, selling, or scaling a business, acquisition knowledge helps increase valuation, create liquidity events, and accelerate growth. Notable Quotes * "Your ideas are only as valuable as the execution." * "If everyone tried to copy you, they still couldn't do it the way you do it because they're not you." * "Small incremental gains can make such a big difference to someone's lifestyle when they finish this game." Connect with Saul Cohen: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/] * Website: https://theexperteye.co.uk/ [https://theexperteye.co.uk/] A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com [http://www.fanvue.com/] today and launch your career! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis [http://gohighlevel.com/travis] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SOLO | Make Money by Thinking Like a Hall of Famer - Lessons from Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce is an NBA Hall of Famer, NBA Champion, Finals MVP, and one of the 75 greatest players in basketball history. In this episode, Travis breaks down the biggest lessons he learned from his conversation with Paul, exploring how elite performers use goal setting, environment design, relentless work ethic, and an underdog mentality to achieve extraordinary success. Whether you're building a business, advancing your career, or pursuing a personal goal, Paul's journey offers valuable insights into what it takes to perform at the highest level. On this episode we talk about: * Why short-term goals are the foundation of long-term success * How your environment shapes your habits, decisions, and outcomes * The difference between talent and the work required to maximize it * Using rejection, setbacks, and being underestimated as motivation * Why appreciating success in the moment is harder—and more important—than most people realize Top 3 Takeaways 1. Focus on the next step, not the entire staircase. Long-term success is built through a series of achievable short-term goals that create momentum and confidence. 2. Design your environment for success. It's easier to build winning habits when your surroundings support your goals rather than constantly tempt you away from them. 3. Talent only creates opportunity. Consistent effort, discipline, and work ethic are what separate high performers from everyone else at the highest levels. Notable Quotes * "Short-term goals are the engine of long-term greatness." * "Control your environment before it controls you." * "Talent without work is just potential—and potential does not make Hall of Famers." Connect with Paul Pierce: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpierce [https://www.instagram.com/paulpierce] * Other: Travis's full interview with Paul [https://youtu.be/j2UbOvepjes?si=l5rttm1mH67bHUWN] A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com [http://www.fanvue.com/] today and launch your career! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis [http://gohighlevel.com/travis] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

CO-HOST | Make Money by Betting on Creators Before Everyone Else Does

The entertainment industry is undergoing a major shift, and creators are leading the charge. In this episode, Travis and producer Eric discuss the breakout success of Obsession, a low-budget horror film created by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Curry Barker. They explore how independent creators are bypassing traditional gatekeepers, building audiences online, and proving that great storytelling can outperform massive budgets. Along the way, they dive into the parallels between comedy and horror, the economics of filmmaking, and why we're entering a new era of creator-driven entertainment. On this episode we talk about: * How YouTube creators are successfully making the leap into Hollywood * Why low-budget horror films continue to generate outsized returns * The surprising connection between comedy and horror storytelling * The financial success story behind Obsession and creator-led filmmaking * How audience demand is reshaping traditional entertainment industries Top 3 Takeaways 1. Great storytelling beats big budgets. A compelling product can outperform projects backed by vastly larger resources when it resonates with audiences. 2. The barriers between independent creators and traditional media are disappearing, creating massive opportunities for talented people to break into established industries. 3. Word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing tools in the world—especially when creators build genuine trust with their audiences. Notable Quotes * "The thing that makes them good at YouTube also makes them good at this other thing." * "Great storytelling doesn't need a massive budget—it needs a great creator." * "I just love seeing more and more examples of creators continuously blurring the lines between YouTube and Hollywood." Connect with the Show: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell [https://www.instagram.com/travischappell] * Website: https://travischappell.com [https://travischappell.com/] A Word from Our Sponsors: Today's episode is brought to you by our incredible sponsors. Their support allows us to continue bringing you conversations and insights from entrepreneurs, investors, creators, and industry leaders. Check out the links in the episode description to learn more about our sponsors and support the brands that support this show. - Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com [http://www.fanvue.com/] today and launch your career! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis [http://gohighlevel.com/travis] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building Customer-Centric Brands That Matter with Marc Horowitz

Marc Horowitz has built a career across multiple industries—from energy derivatives trading and hedge funds to satellite imagery technology and custom jewelry. After retiring from trading in his early forties, Marc found himself searching for a new challenge that would allow him to build something meaningful. Today, he is the founder of Ilmeo, a jewelry company that transforms photos and impressions of loved ones into personalized keepsakes. In this episode, Marc shares lessons from finance, entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and the importance of creating products that carry emotional value. On this episode we talk about: * How a career in energy derivatives trading led to financial independence * Why retiring early isn't always the finish line people expect it to be * The lessons Marc learned from helping build satellite imagery marketplace SkyFi * The origin story behind Ilmeo and turning meaningful moments into a business * Building customer-centric brands and navigating the challenges of e-commerce growth Top 3 Takeaways 1. Financial success creates freedom, but fulfillment often comes from building something meaningful and lasting. 2. If you don't know what your edge is, you're probably gambling—not investing. 3. Strong relationships and a reputation for helping others become invaluable assets throughout your entrepreneurial journey. Notable Quotes * "The harder you work, the luckier you get." * "If you don't know what your edge is, you're gambling." * "Money only exists so you can do things you enjoy, build memories, and live a meaningful life." Connect with Marc Horowitz: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-horowitz-83a0b21aa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-horowitz-83a0b21aa/] * Website: https://ilmiojewelry.com/ [https://ilmiojewelry.com/] * Email: marc@ilmio.com [marc@ilmio.com] A Word from Our Sponsors: Today's episode is brought to you by our valued sponsors. Their support helps us continue bringing you conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who are finding unique ways to create wealth and build meaningful businesses. Be sure to check out the sponsors in the episode description and support the brands that make this show possible. - Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com [http://www.fanvue.com/] today and launch your career! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis [http://gohighlevel.com/travis] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]