What does it mean to be a billionaire? Is it simply a number in a bank account, or is it a level of power that transcends government and borders? This introductory episode sets the stage for our entire series, defining the billionaire not just as a person of wealth, but as an architect of the modern world. We explore how the concept of the billion-dollar fortune is barely a century old, yet it has come to dominate our economy, politics, and culture.

We journey from the Gilded Age tycoons who first amassed these fortunes to the tech titans who command them today. We ask the critical questions: Is it possible to accumulate this much wealth ethically? What is the true source of their power, and how does it affect the lives of ordinary people around the globe? This episode lays the groundwork for the stories to come, establishing the themes of ambition, controversy, and the hidden costs of unimaginable riches.

Join us as we begin our investigation into the most exclusive club on Earth. We will set aside the myths and the glamour to understand what a billion dollars truly represents. This is the prologue to a century of power, money, and control.