You impressed me by inviting him on your show, Max. We seldom see him on social media.
@martasielska
I’ve always loved staying at Anantara Hotels. I also live in Thailand long term, so it was great to hear insights from a successful entrepreneur. Thanks for this interview!
@xAlyss
I used to work for Minor back in Thailand. I was just a small employee but I got chances to meet him when he had annual meeting. I also took care of his family at the hotel in Bangkok. They are so humble and kind.
@Aonthena
"One focus only: survive first, grow later"
This is how he think under pressure.
@albertzigrind
Thank you for this great interview of a visionary entrepreneur in the Kingdom of Thailand! I highly recommend Bill Heinecke's book, The Entrepreneur: 25 Golden Rules for the Global Business Manager.
@PhoneNHe
He has accomplished almost everything one can imagine in Thailand. But as a Thai myself working with Farangs and High-So People... Let me be honest, you cannot reach everything on a clean white path. There are heavy trade offs under the table to make it along the road, especially in high visible positions with immense cashflows. Kudos to him, he creates thousands of job opportunities.
@1959Kenh
Amazing for one guy. I remember hearing about you in the 80s
@sladan1
I see Bill around our office building in bkk pretty often, and I've always been curious about his story and his mindset. Next time I run into him, I'm definitely saying hi. Thank u for this Max!
@k.kaiser3997
It's important to remember that this is an extremely rare success story, as 10,000 Farangs in Thailand have lost everything due to the lack of legal protection for foreigners. The question also remains how he was able to protect and own land and got a passport. He has special connections to the government, they granted him specific permits.
@jamestreanor182
Now I understand why Age restaurant is good, bc its his personal steakhouse.
Meet Bill Heinecke. Born in the US and raised in Bangkok, he started his first business at 17. Nobody trusted him, so he grew a beard, got married, and eventually built one of the largest hospitality empires in the world, with close to 100,000 employees. His company operates hotels in 60+ countries under luxury brands like Anantara, and franchises global food chains such as Burger King and Dairy Queen. I was invited to Bill’s house in Phuket, where we talked about how being in Thailand helped him build his multibillion-dollar business. What is the secret that allowed Bill to survive multiple crises on his path to success? And why does he see this century as Asia’s time, while many foreigners still believe the myths pushed by the media. Enjoy!
00:00 INTRO
01:20 What It’s Like Being an American Raised Abroad
01:57 Giving Up an American Passport and Becoming Thai
02:49 Walking Around a Billionaire’s House in Phuket
03:32 Misconceptions About Thailand
06:32 How Many Houses and Cars Bill Has
07:10 Thai vs American Identity
08:18 How to Become Successful in Thailand
08:53 How Bill Spends Time With Friends
09:38 Challenges of Living in Thailand
10:29 Which Countries in Asia Are on the Rise Now
11:31 Spa Rooms in Bill’s House
12:26 Why This Is the Century of Asia
13:32 Kids’ Room in Bill’s House
13:52 Big Shifts in the World Right Now
15:27 How AI Will Change the World
17:27 Gym in Bill’s House
17:59 How to Build Connections With People
20:25 Why the Middle East Is Growing Now
23:16 Motorcycle Hobby
24:47 What It’s Like to Be a Billionaire
26:38 The Moment Bill Became a Billionaire
28:07 Can You Become an Entrepreneur or Are You Born One
29:18 The “I Made It” Moment in Life
30:21 How to Overcome Crises
31:35 How Bill Became a Billionaire
33:32 One Habit That Helped Bill Become a Billionaire
34:25 How to Manage Tough Negotiations
37:04 Biggest Challenges in Bill’s Life
38:34 Advice to Young Entrepreneurs
40:08 Is Emotional Intelligence More Important Than an Academic Degree
40:36 Does Work-Life Balance Actually Exist
42:07 The Real Cost of Becoming a Billionaire
42:55 Why Bill Married When He Was Very Young
45:04 What’s the Goal of Running a Business
47:06 Most Important Realizations in Life
48:36 Bill on Meeting King Rama IX
49:59 If Bill Were Starting Today, What Would He Do
51:29 Do You Really Need to Dream Big to Build a Successful Business
54:23 Life Principles
55:03 How It Feels to Be 76 Years Old
56:11 The Meaning of Life
