Poor Kid Makes Millions Trading, Fights Inequality with Gary Stevenson

Poor Kid Makes Millions Trading, Fights Inequality with Gary Stevenson

Author: Paul Ollinger March 29, 2024 Duration: 1:04:14
Gary Stevenson grew up in tough, working class East London. Despite setbacks in high school (having to do with the distribution of illicit substances), his gift for mathematics landed him a spot at London School of Economics (alma mater of Mick Jagger, Margaret Thatcher, and George Soros) where he attended with the sons and daughters of the global elite. His skill at a card game won him a job on Citibank’s trading desk and he went on to earn multi-million dollar—er, pound sterling—bonuses in his early 20s. Gary eventually become Citi’s top trader but the game started to take a physical toll on him. The stress, pressure, and moral conflict of betting against poor people—at least that’s how he saw it—led him to leave trading and begin to address growing income inequality around the globe. In this fast-paced and insight-rich conversation, Gary and Paul discuss:

Gary's new memoir, The Trading Game: A Confession.

The risks of trading currency

How he felt when he got his first bonus of $750,000 

Bias against working-class people

Why he knew it was time to quit the industry 

The positive role of short-sellers in a market

His YouTube challenge, Gary’s Economics


Hot to tax billionaires more


⭐ Subscribe To Paul’s Substack HERE. (Seriously, Do It!)⭐
 ✍️ Rate And Review Crazy Money HERE.  (Seriously, Do This Also!) ✍️
🎤See Paul’s Live Comedy Dates HERE. 🎤

Get full access to Reasonably Happy at words.paulollinger.com/subscribe

Paul Ollinger has worn a few different hats-stand-up comedian, tech executive, and now, the curious host of Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger. This isn't a lecture series or a dry self-help guide. Instead, it feels more like pulling up a chair for a series of genuinely engaging talks that wander into the places where our daily lives, careers, and inner worlds collide. The conversations, which feature authors, thinkers, and various creatives, are refreshingly candid. They dig into the practical and philosophical questions about what it actually means to build a life that feels both successful and satisfying. You'll find that each episode of this podcast approaches big themes-money, purpose, and the pursuit of contentment-with a blend of wit and thoughtful depth. The underlying idea isn't about finding a perfect, Instagram-ready version of happiness, but something more grounded and attainable. It's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's a smarter, more meaningful way to navigate the pressures of business and culture without losing sight of what matters. Tuning in, you get the sense that Paul is figuring it out alongside his guests, making the insights feel earned and relatable. The result is a consistently interesting exploration of how we can all aim for a life that feels reasonably, and authentically, well-lived.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger
Podcast Episodes
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy with Robin Sharma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
Robin Sharma is a leadership expert, coach and author whose books have sold tens of millions of copies around the world. The author of The 5AM Club, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The Everyday Hero Manifesto, and Who Wil…
America’s Government Teacher, Sharon McMahon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:56
Sharon McMahon is living her purpose. Via her wildly popular Instagram account @SharonSaysSo, she is fighting political misinformation and guiding her audience through “the fascinating world of democracy, politics, and h…
The Narcissist Next-door with Dr. Ramani Durvasula [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:36
Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a clinical psychologist and author of the New York Times best-seller It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. In this insight-rich conversation, Dr. Ramani explains the trai…
TED's Chris Anderson on Infectious Generosity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:54
Chris Anderson is the Head Curator of TED and author of the new book, 'Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading' in which he argues that YOU and I can improve the world by embracing our natural inclinatio…
Mike and Paul’s Road Trip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:09
This episode is highlights of a conversation between Paul and Mike Carano, long-time friend and Crazy Money editor. It was recorded on a road trip between San Francisco where Paul had just performed at Cobb’s Comedy Club…
On Fire for Life with John O’Leary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:06
When John O’Leary was 9 years old, he played with fire and got burned. Like really, really burned, over 99% of his body. Doctors gave him less than 1% chance to live and told his parents he would not survive. Yet thanks…
Paul Reads Money Essays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:21
In this special “where has Paul been?” episode, Paul reads three of his latest pieces from his Substack, Money and the Meaning of Life, so that you can drive or workout without reading. Latest posts include:Adventures in…
Race and Money with Coleman Hughes (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:34
Today’s guest is Coleman Hughes, a writer, podcaster, opinion columnist and self-described "Black man who does’t think everything is about race.” Coleman has a new book out this week called 'The End of Race Politics: Arg…
The Joys and Anxieties of Wealth (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:58
Paul Schervish studies very wealthy people: what worries them, what delights them, and what motivates them to give to charity. The Director of Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Paul is the co-author of…
Dr. Drew Pinsky on Careers, Money, and Fame (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
This is a special holiday encore of the 2nd episode of Crazy Money with Dr. Drew, which ran Jan 30, 2019. Dr. Drew offers candid insight into the ups and downs of a career in broadcasting and medicine. From Loveline to C…