Rainmakers

By Rame AdiBusiness Investing

Rainmakers episodes

March 20, 2025 #14 Rick Caruso: Shopping Center Billionaire
In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary story of Rick Caruso, who built a $5.8 billion real estate empire with less than a dozen shopping centers in Los Angeles.Starting as an attorney with no real estate experience, Caruso transformed the retail landscape by taking a completely different approach to development. Learn how he went from buying parking lots to creating some of America's most successful shopping destinations like The Grove.

What You'll Learn:How Caruso turned regulatory obstacles into massive opportunities when other developers couldn't buildWhy listening to community concerns became his secret competitive advantageThe innovative design principles that helped his malls achieve double the industry's average conversion ratesHow preserving the historic Farmers Market became central to The Grove's success.

If you like the episode please leave a review and follow me on X!
https://x.com/rainmakerspod

Sources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qnR3C9msx34R8ACdor9efwVXqHxd-1tHAnVauk6JeFM/edit?usp=sharing
41 min
January 31, 2025 #13 Herb Allen Jr: Hollywood's Banker
Learn how Herb Allen Jr built his fortune and created Allen & Co to be Hollywood's premier merchant bank.

Sources
Books:
"The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life" by Alice Schroeder
"Hollywood Vault: Film Libraries before Home Video" by Eric Hoyt
"Engulfed: The Death of Paramount Pictures and the Birth of Corporate Hollywood" by Bernard F. Dick
"Steven Spielberg: A Biography" by Joseph McBride

Articles:
"Inside The Private World of Allen & Co." by Carol J. Loomis
"All Those Allens Back a Broadway Hit" by Robert J. Col
"Has Allen got a deal for you!" by Cary Reich
"Herbert Allen and his merry dealsters" by Dyan Machan
"Herbert A. Allen Institutional Investor Profile 1987"
"When Herb Allen Talks, Star Makers Listen" by Alan Citron
"Allen Puts No Stock in Wall Street Sages" by Charles Paikert
"Allen & Co. Connects Hollywood with Wall Street" by Randall Smith
"Inside The Annual Summer Camp For Billionaires in Sun Valley, Idaho" by Jim Dobson
"Show About Mother-In-Law Making Stark a Millionaire" by Hal Boyle
"Funny Girl Premieres As Movie" by Vincent Canby
"Who is Running The Columbia Pictures Show?" by Jack Egan
"Media-Mogul Madness" by Richard Turner
"Happy Ending" by Dan Dorfman
"Columbia Puts Puttnam in His Place" by Peg Tyre and Jeannette Walls
"In Hollywood she walks the other way" by John Hallowell
"How Are Things in Panicsville?" by Budd Schulberg
"Behind the Silence at Columbia Pictures- No Moguls, No Minions, Just Profits" by Chris Welles
"Stars Fell on Mismaloya" by Richard Oulahan
"My Battles with Barbra and Jon" by Frank Pierson
"Hollywood's Wall Street Connection" by Lucian K. Truscott IV
"Financial Gossip" by Jesse Bogue
"Sun Valley Daze" by Nikki Finks
"A Look at Future of Show Biz" by Charles Schreger
"Ray Stark—Hollywood's Deft Deal-Maker" by Philip K. Scheuer
"Investigating the Gulf of Streisand Incident" by Joyce Haber
"Paul Gallico's Best Seller Headed for Stage and Screen" by Louella Parsons
"Movie Discs Get a Big New Boost" by Dick Williams
"The Man Who Scored in Coca-Columbia" by Shawn Tully
"Entertainment: New Gold in the Hollywood Hills" - Time Magazine (1966)
"Show Business: Boston to Hollywood" - Time Magazine (1956)
"Orchestrating Columbia's Forward March" by Joyce Haber
"Tinsel returns to Columbia Studio" - Los Angeles AP (1975)
"Alan J. Hirschfield Story of a Movie Mogul" by Shirley Dodson Cobb
"Kerkorian to Seek 20% of Columbia" by Robert J. Cole
"Coke Expected to Acquire Columbia Pictures" by Thomas C. Hayes
"Schmoozing All the way to the Bank" by Leah Nathans Spiro
"State of the Arb" by Jason Zweig
"King of the Sports Deal" by David Whitford
"A Major Studio Player" by Michael Cieply
"Meeting of Moguls, if Not of Minds" by David D. Kirkpatrick
"Cashing In on Old Friends in High Places" by Barry Rehfeld
"Media Executives Lose their Edge" by Mark Landler
37 min
October 31, 2024#12 Charlie Allen: Merchant Banking 101
Show Notes:
The Allen & Co story hasn't been fully told yet - until now. To understand this secretive merchant bank, we need to start with its founder Charlie Allen. In this episode, we'll explore how Charlie Allen built Allen & Co and uncover the key moves that made the merchant bank so successful in the mid-1900s, setting the stage for his nephew Herb Jr to take the reins and transform it into what it is today.
If you liked the episode please subscribe and leave a review!
Sources:
The Art of Success by The editors of Fortune Magazine

Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons by Seymour Schulich

The Financiers: The World of Great Wall Street Investment Banking Houses by Michael C. Jensen

The Merchant Bankers by Joseph Wechsberg

Money, Money, Money: Wall Street in words and pictures by Ralph G. Martin

Transforming the Irvine Ranch by Michael Stockstill

"A. Alfred Taubman papers, 1942-2015" University of Michigan Library

"Border Raid" by Time Magazine 1950

"Colorado Contortion" by Forbes Magazine 1953

"Company with a Split Personality" by Forbes Magazine 1973

"GOP Stronghold" by LA Times 1973

"Inside the Private World of Allen & Co. Putting a premium on personal ties, this family firm thrives in the land of the giants" by Carol J Loomis

"Opportunity, Inc" by Time Magazine 1948

"Plain Abe of Northtown" Is Transforming District" by The Kansas City Star 1948

"Pride of Pueblo" by Time Magazine 1948

"Charlie's Profit Instinct" by Time Magazine 1963

"Sidelights; Situation Found: Harold Allen" by NY Times 1965

"So I lost, So What?" by Forbes Magazine 1969

"Titanic Windfall" by Forbes Magazine 1958

"Too Soon, Charlie Allen?" by Forbes Magazine 1975

"Trucker Loses Action to Force Sale of Land" by LA Times 1962

"Tustin Continues Growth" by The Tustin News 1966

"Wall Street's Charlie Allen and His Family of Financiers" by NY Times 1976

"Winning of the Irvine Co." by LA Times 1977
Links:
John Scully Arbuckle Speech: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/news-history/ernest-c-arbuckle-award-acceptance-speech-john-h-scully-mba-68
Paul Enright Analyst Presentation: https://becomeaninvestor.org/career-advice
Donald Bren Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-donald-bren-blueprint-billionaire/id1726030978?i=1000647523005
Follow me on Twitter: https://x.com/rainmakerspod
58 min
August 29, 2024 #11 Ken Hersh: Capitalizing on Chaos
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where financial legends come to life.
Today, we're joined by Ken Hersh, co-founder of Natural Gas Partners, to uncover the firm's extraordinary success.
Ken will share how NGP's innovative strategies transformed the oil and gas industry from a neglected sector into a private equity goldmine.
We'll explore the vision, timing, and innovation that led to larger funds, impressive returns, and a revolution in energy investment.
Join us for an insider's perspective on how NGP became a true game-changer in the world of finance.

Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod

Sources:
The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh
“The Smart Money Speaks” by Stephen Taub
“Rainwater’s World” by David Carey
“Investing secrets of the Rainwater Rolodex” by Hilary Rosenberg
"The man behind the Bass Dynasty" by Anthony Bianco
"The Rainwater Prophecy" by Oliver Ryan

If you enjoyed the episode please share and leave a review!
52 min
July 11, 2024 #10 Natural Gas Partners: The Rainwater Thesis
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where we unravel the strategies of investing legends.
Today, we're diving into the birth of Natural Gas Partners, a pivotal moment in Richard Rainwater's illustrious career.
We'll explore how the shifting landscape of the oil and gas industry set the stage for Rainwater's bold move, dissecting his unique approach to deal-making.
Join us as we connect the dots between market events, meticulous research, and the formation of a private equity powerhouse.
This is part one of a two-part series that promises to decode the brilliance behind one of the most successful ventures in financial history.
Get ready to discover how a visionary investor turned industry upheaval into extraordinary wealth!

Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod

Sources:

ENSCO: The First 20 Years by Carolyn Barta
Oil Capital by Bernard F. Clark Jr.
Money Masters of Our Time by John Train
The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh
Squawk Box CNBC April 4th, 2012 6:00am-9:00am EDT
Wall Street with Louis Rukeyeser 1997
“The Smart Money Speaks” by Stephen Taub
“Rainwater’s World” by David Carey
“Investing secrets of the Rainwater Rolodex” by Hilary Rosenberg
-“Lord of the Lowball” by Shade Rowe
"Bootstrapped" by Mark Kindley
"Bass brothers lose investment manager" by Stephen Rassenfoss
"The man behind the Bass Dynasty" by Anthony Bianco
"The Rainwater Prophecy" by Oliver Ryan

If you enjoyed the episode please share and leave a review!
46 min
May 09, 2024#9 Kerkorian's Second Act: Redefining Industries
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers Podcast, where billionaire success stories come to life.
Today, we continue our deep dive into Kirk Kerkorian's investment playbook.
We'll explore how this casino mogul navigated a financial crisis after a high-stakes, debt-fueled bet on MGM during an economic downturn.
Discover how Kerkorian rebounded from a staggering loss, seeing his net worth plummet from $350 million to $70 million in just one year.
Join us for a masterclass in resilience and strategic recovery in the face of near-financial ruin.

Special thanks to @45wallst on twitter for helping with the research of this episode.
Follow him here: https://twitter.com/45WallSt
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Sources:
Fade Out: The Calamitous Final Days of MGM by Peter Bart

Winner Takes All by Christina Binkley

Indecent Exposure: A True Story of Hollywood and Wall Street by David McClintick

Keynote Speech to The Society of Automotive Analysts - Jerome B. York 1996

Don’t Ever tell Babe Ruth how to hold his bat by D.M.

Kerkorian: Casinos Trump Cars by Businessweek 2006

Kerkorian Shuffles the MGM Deck by Businessweek 2007

Kerkorian Faces Debt Woes by Businessweek 2009

Kerkorian in the Emerald City by Ralph King Jr

The Strip and The Street by Bernard Condon

Beverly Hills Meets Motown by Time Magazine 1990

Kerkorian, Columbia In Peace Pact by Robert J. Cole

Kerkorian to Seek 20% of Columbia by Robert J. Cole

New UA Will Start As 'Shell Company' by Thomas C. Hayes

Third Time Is Still a Charm for Financier Kerkorian by James Bates

The MGM Grand Hotel, which opened in December 1973, by Chris Chrystal

Timeline: Kirk Kerkorian’s long career of bold investments by LA Times 2015

Kerkorian and MGM, Off Again by Frank Ahrens

Ted Turner: Back from the Brink by Stratford P. Sherman
44 min
April 18, 2024 #8 Kirk Kerkorian: Lord of Leisure
Show Notes:
Welcome to the Rainmakers podcast, where we decode the strategies of investing legends.
Today, we're diving into the early career of Kirk Kerkorian, a self-made billionaire who rose from humble beginnings to reshape Las Vegas and Hollywood.
We'll explore the pivotal moves that set Kerkorian on his path to fortune, from his daring aviation ventures to his first forays into the casino business.
Join us for an inspiring journey through the formative years of one of America's most intriguing tycoons.
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Links:
International Hotel Ad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westgate_Las_Vegas#/media/File:International_Hotel_advertisement.jpg
Alix Pasquet Presentation: https://youtu.be/YMmjbHAHdNU?si=kKyvFOBg6jcsRpeL
Sources:
Kerkorian: An American Success Story by Dial Torgerson
The Airline Industry by William M. Leary
The Only Way to Fly: The Story of Western Airlines, America’s Senior Air Carrier by Robert J Serling
Third Try at the Club by David McClintick
How It All Came Apart In the Eurodollar Market by Lewis Beman
Kirk Kerkorian: Friend or Foe? : His Presence in the MGM Deal Receives Mixed Reviews by Michael A. Hiltzik
Entrepreneurs: The High Ride on Free Time by Time Magazine
Kerkorian Doesn’t Want All the Meat off the Bone by Irwin Ross
58 min
March 28, 2024 #7 Jack Kent Cooke: King of Content
Welcome to the Rainmakers podcast, where we unveil the strategies of world-class investors.
Today, we're exploring the remarkable career of Jack Kent Cooke, a media maverick who built a billion-dollar empire through innovative business practices.
From turning around struggling radio stations with Roy Thomson to pioneering the sports business, Cooke's journey is a masterclass in creative entrepreneurship.
Join us as we unpack the deals and decisions that transformed this visionary into a titan of media and sports.
Prepare for an illuminating dive into the mind of a true rainmaker!
Links:
Mark Leonard Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uHEOdyn622mABGv7rd6Y_uQL1ngr94z6/view?pli=1
Springwood Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/springwoodCap27
Savannah Bananas: https://youtu.be/T5RkB7_qNh8?si=Slip5PnA3q9EzyNa
Paul Enright Invest like the Best: https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/paul-enright-the-buy-side-primer/id1154105909?i=1000517881913
Follow me: https://twitter.com/rainmakerspod
Sources:
The Last Mogul by Adrian Havill
Jack Kent Cooke: A Career Biography by Adrian Kinnane
Market Place: Teleprompter: Fight Widens by Robert Metz
Jack Cooke: Genial But Tough by Steve E Prokesch
36 min
February 29, 2024 #6: Donald Bren: Blueprint Billionaire
Welcome to the Rainmakers podcast, where we unravel the strategies of the world's most successful investors.
Today, we're diving into the extraordinary story of Donald Bren, America's real estate titan. We'll explore how a single, masterful deal propelled Bren to become the nation's wealthiest property investor.
Join us as we dissect Bren's background, his approach to this game-changing investment, and the elements that made it wildly successful.
Get ready for an insider's look at the deal that built an empire and the mind behind it all.

Links:

James Cameron Interview: https://youtu.be/qTVGXcmk0xg?si=qiosQNavbV--HXPP

Founder’s Podcast #311: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/311-james-cameron/id1141877104?i=1000620838661

Donald Bren ULI Interview: https://youtu.be/XTLz2v88zWs?si=Gl-t_6zH9xckAbf3

Deane Homes Garden Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/preserveorangecounty/photos/a.1109996192417998/3156041687813428/?type=3

Forbes Riches Real Estate Billionaires in 2023: https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2023/10/04/the-richest-real-estate-billionaires-in-america-2023/?sh=516e6a2a63af

Rancho Mission Viejo Periodical: https://www.cityofrsm.org/DocumentCenter/View/507/Rancho-Mission-Viejo-History-PDF

Sources:

**Transforming the Irvine Ranch: Joan Irvine, William Pereira, Ray Watson, and the Big Plan by Michael Stockstill and H. Pike Oliver**

**The Irvine Ranch: A Time for People: A 50-Year Overview of the Development of the Irvine Ranch in Orange County, California (with a New Epilogue) by Martin A. Bower**

Threshold Resistance by A. Alfred Taubman

James Toepfer Oral History by Mission Viejo Oral History Project

John T. Martin Oral History by Mission Viejo Oral History Project

Tony Moiso Oral History by The Living Stories Collective

*Bren family builder is latest housing casualty* by John Gittelsohn

*Key Figures in the Dispute : DONALD L. BREN : Close-up: Developer appears to be uncomfortable in his role as one of the richest men in the country.* by Michael Flagg

*A Family’s Fortune* by Sam Enriquez

*AMERICA'S RICHEST LAND BARON Donald Bren's stunning property covers 100 square miles of California. He's worth $2 billion now, and his ''build and hold'' strategy promises to keep his wealth climbing.* by Gary Hector **

*BUSINESS PEOPLE; Investor in Irvine Sees Long-Term Opportunity* by Daniel F. Cuff

*Donald Bren’s Legacy* by Scott Kraft

*BREN: Orange County’s Reclusive Billionaire : Is Donald Bren America’s Richest?* by Michael Cieply and Michael Flagg

*Mother of Irvine Co. chairman* by LA Times Archives 2008

*Forster & O’Neill and Their Great Ranch* by Don Tryon

Have any feedback?

DM me @rainmakerspod on Twitter!
58 min
February 22, 2024 #5 Dennis Washington: Digging In, Cashing Out
Welcome to the Rainmakers podcast!
Step into the world of financial titans as we uncover the strategies behind their astronomical success. Today, we shine the spotlight on Dennis Washington, a self-made billionaire whose empire spans construction, mining, railroads, and even luxury yachts.
From humble beginnings in construction to building a diverse billion-dollar portfolio, Washington's story is a masterclass in leveraging skills and seizing opportunities.
Join us as we journey through Washington's remarkable ascent, examining the pivotal deals that shaped his fortune and extracting valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors alike.

I also want to give a special shoutout to Pythia Capital on twitter for helping me research for this weeks episode.

Be sure to follow here: https://twitter.com/PythiaR

Links and Sources:

The Rich History of the Anaconda Copper Mine: https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/278

Anaconda, Montana: https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/montana/anaconda/

Frank Gardner Oral History: https://www.verdigrisproject.org/oral-histories/frank-gardner-mining-executive

Fabled construction company rises again: https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2004/08/01/fabled-construction-company-rises-again/29731744007/

The Wreck of Morrison Knudsen: https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,133973,00.html

David Tepper $20 Story: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2010/01/david_tepper_is_so_rich_he_jus.html

Djokovic on Playing Tennis: https://www.ft.com/content/efaeed40-725c-11e5-bdb1-e6e4767162cc

Sources:

- *Anaconda : labor, community, and culture in Montana's smelter city* ****by Laurie Mercier
- *Opportunity, Montana : big copper, bad water, and the burial of an American landscape* ****by Brad Tyer
- "Denny’s always the low-cost producer" by Richard L. Stern
- "New hope for the dead" by James Cook
- "The king is dead, long live the king!" by Seth Lubove
- "Billionaire Highway Man: Life Lessons Dennis Washington Learned When He Was 25" by Luisa Kroll
- "Quicksand" by Victoria Murphy
- "A tycoon in the old mold" by Stephen S. Johnson
- "Man With Toys" by David Armstrong
- "A Shoe Shiner Turned Construction Billionaire, Dennis Washington Now Seeks to Polish His Legacy" by David Benoit
- "Troubled Washington Group Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy" by Michael Brick
- "Marine Towing Operations in Canada" by Joseph Monteiro
- "Kyle Washington: The Prince of Tides" by Alison Bate
- "Dedicated to Development" by Jessica Marquez

Have any feedback?
DM me @rainmakerspod on Twitter!

41 min