Steven Bartlett Net Worth: From Startup to $50 Million Powerhouse
Steven Bartlett Net Worth: From Startup to $50 Million Powerhouse.
What Is Steven Bartlett's Net Worth?
Steven Bartlett is a prominent British entrepreneur, investor, author, and podcaster, boasting a net worth of $50 million. He is the founder of Social Chain, a company specializing in social media marketing, as well as the Web3 development platform Thirdweb. In 2021, he began his role as an investor on BBC One's "Dragons' Den." Additionally, Bartlett established Flight Group, which encompasses Flight Fund, Flight Books, Flight Story, and Flight Studio. He launched the podcast "The Diary of a CEO" in 2017, which achieved recognition in 2024 as one of the five most popular podcasts on Spotify.
Bartlett has authored two books: "Happy Sexy Millionaire" (2021) and "The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life" (2023). "Happy Sexy Millionaire" reached the "Sunday Times" bestseller list, while "The Diary of a CEO" was nominated for The British Book Awards' Book of the Year. In 2020, Steven was honored with induction into the Manchester Hall of Fame.
Early Life
Steven Bartlett, originally named Steven Cliff Bartlett, was born on August 26, 1992, in Botswana. He is the offspring of a Nigerian mother and an English father. His mother had to leave school at the age of seven and was unable to read or write, while his father is employed as a structural engineer. When he was two years old, Bartlett relocated to Plymouth, England, with his family. He attended Plymstock School until he was expelled during his sixth form. Subsequently, he enrolled at Manchester Metropolitan University but withdrew after attending just one lecture.
Career
In 2013, Bartlett established the online messaging platform Wallpark. The subsequent year, he collaborated with Dominic McGregor to co-found the social media marketing firm Social Chain. Reports in 2019 indicated that Steven and Wanja Oberhof would jointly oversee Social Chain following its merger with the German retailer Lumaland. At the time of this merger, Social Chain was valued at approximately €186 million, subsequently rebranding as The Social Chain AG. The company was listed on Xetra and the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange, where its valuation exceeded $200 million. Bartlett resigned from his position as CEO in 2020. By the autumn of 2021, Social Chain AG's valuation had reached $600 million on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's prime standard.
As of mid-2022, the holding company Social Chain AG encompassed 64 subsidiaries. Steven informed "The Times" that despite no longer serving as CEO, he maintained a "significant" equity stake in the company and was contracted to engage in "a range of strategic matters."
In an unexpected development, it was reported in 2023 that Social Chain was acquired for a mere £7.7 million.
Additionally, Bartlett founded the Web3 startup Thirdweb, which, within nine months of its launch, secured $5 million in seed funding along with an extra $24 million. The startup achieved a valuation of $160 million during its Series A funding round. In late 2020, Steven established Catena Capital, a private equity firm, and shortly thereafter, he assumed the role of non-executive director at the meal replacement company Huel.
Controversies
Steven Bartlett, the youngest-ever "Dragon" on BBC's Dragons' Den, has faced controversies despite his entrepreneurial success. Critics have questioned his bold opinions on mental health and hustle culture, particularly his remarks about the necessity of sacrificing work-life balance for success. His tweets and podcast discussions have sparked debates, with some accusing him of promoting toxic productivity.
Additionally, Bartlett faced backlash over his company Social Chain's early tactics, which allegedly included creating fake viral trends. Despite these controversies, Bartlett remains unapologetic, often addressing criticism directly, arguing that his transparency and willingness to challenge norms are integral to his business philosophy.
Personal Life
Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Bartlett performed as a rapper under the moniker "Lyricist." In a 2023 interview with "The Telegraph," Steven revealed that he owns a seven-year-old French bulldog named in honor of Kanye West's album "The Life of Pablo." In 2019, Bartlett took on the role of an undercover teacher for the Channel 4 series "The Secret Teacher." Additionally, Steven supports the homelessness initiative Homewards, founded by William, Prince of Wales, and in September 2023, he joined Prince William on official visits across Bournemouth.
Despite Steven Bartlett's undeniable entrepreneurial success, his career has been marred by various controversies. His comments on mental health and hustle culture have drawn criticism, with many accusing him of promoting toxic productivity and unhealthy work-life balance ideals. Additionally, the early practices of his company, Social Chain, including creating fake viral trends, have raised ethical concerns.
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While Bartlett remains unapologetic and continues to address his critics, these controversies have cast a shadow on his reputation. His bold approach may have contributed to his success, but it has also alienated some and sparked ongoing debates about his business philosophy.
