In this episode of The Liquidity Event, AJ and Shane dive into billionaire wealth gaps, UK "rags to riches" stories, and what happens when fast financial success reshapes friendships. They unpack media narratives, economic inequality, and why Business Insider profiles might not tell the full truth. The conversation expands into EU vs. US tech power, streaming-platform consolidation, and the rise of "enshittification" across the internet.

AJ and Shane also cover year-end money moves, including FSA/HSA spending strategies, Trump Accounts, and how early-life investment programs could change generational wealth. They discuss credit-building hacks, life-changing compounding math, and the personal finance implications of giving every American baby a federally funded investment account. The episode closes with a look at what to do with an extra $100K at year-end — plus a few fun ideas for how to blow it in six hours.

Key Timestamps

(00:00) Bemelmans Bar recap and the Shrimp Cocktail Index (03:00) Rags-to-riches story: £20M in 8 years and the fallout of fast success (05:00) "Self-made" narratives, Bill Gates' daughter, and privilege vs. perception (08:10) UK vs. US GDP, economic decline, and foreign ownership concerns (09:30) Big Tech fines in the EU and the power imbalance with U.S. platforms (11:45) Streaming chaos: Netflix, Warner Bros., pirating, and lost media access (12:50) "Enshittification" explained — how platforms get worse over time (13:20) FSA/HSA hacks, eligible gift ideas, and Peloton letters of medical necessity (16:30) Trump Accounts, Dell family matching, and life-changing compounding math (26:00) What to do with an extra $100K — loans, DAFs, mortgages, and dream spending

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