A sock over a $100 mic now earns $60 million
The podcast that started with a sock now says it's on track for $60 million.
The story
Steven Bartlett's podcast 'The Diary of a CEO' is projected to generate $60 million in revenue, growing from a $100 microphone setup. He has turned down lucrative deals to maintain creative control.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Steven Bartlett once used a sock over a $100 microphone to start a podcast that now claims $60 million in revenue. That same sock is now probably in a museum, or at least in a drawer labeled ‘memories.’ The real punchline is that he turned down a deal with 12 ads—four times more than he currently has—because he values his audience’s trust more than a quick payout. It’s like if your friend offered you a free pizza in exchange for letting them spray-paint your car, and you said no because you like your car’s current color. Bartlett’s podcast is now a business that includes subscriptions, events, and even an investment fund. But the real question is: Who’s the real audience here, the listeners or the investors? Either way, the sock’s probably still there, silently judging.
