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 the 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 became 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
How to tax billionaires more
🎤 See Paul’s Live Comedy Dates HERE. 🎤
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves.
Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?
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