Hetty Green: The 'witch' of Wall Street

In this episode of "Good Bad Billionaire," Zing Tsjeng and Simon Jack explore the life of Hetty Green, a 19th and 20th-century American businesswoman known as the "Witch of Wall Street." The hosts discuss Green's upbringing in a wealthy Quaker family, her early exposure to finance, and her unique investment strategies, particularly her focus on value investing and distressed assets like government bonds and railroads. They delve into her reputation as a miser, examining anecdotes and controversies such as her son's leg amputation and her role in a bank closure. Despite her frugal image, the hosts highlight Green's acts of public service, including providing loans to New York City during financial crises. The episode concludes with a discussion of Green's legacy, her complex character, and a rating of her wealth, controversy, giving back, and power.