[@alux] 15 Habits of the 1% in 2026

Link: https://youtu.be/f6tp84W2n9g

Duration: 31 min

Transcript: Download plain text

Short Summary

This episode explores how the ultra-wealthy invest in security, health, and cash flow to preserve and grow their fortunes differently from typical investors. Topics include the surge in executive protection demand after the Bryan Thompson assassination, citizenship-by-investment programs ranging from $130,000 to $1 million, and how Bill Ackman generated $3.85 billion in just one year through two strategic trades. The wealthy prioritize cash-flowing businesses over paper valuation, with family offices now allocating over 500% more to private markets than a decade ago.

Key Quotes

1. "The richest people right now are trying to become unreachable." (00:00:00)
2. "The grind culture is dying because it's costing them life." (00:01:01)
3. "When the gap between the 1% and the 99% gets visible enough, the 1% becomes a target. Not metaphorically, literally." (00:02:22)
4. "The public algorithm rewards mediocre information served fast. Garbage in, garbage out. It's eroding your brain." (00:04:01)
5. "You get rich by taking large amounts of risk with little money. You stay rich by taking little amounts of risk with a lot of money." (00:08:51)

Detailed Summary

Executive Protection and Security

The demand for executive protection services jumped 10 to 15 times almost overnight after the Bryan Thompson assassination in December 2024, according to Allied Universal, which serves 80% of the Fortune 500. Median executive security spending in S&P 500 companies more than doubled from $40,000 to $94,000 per executive between 2022 and 2024. Coinbase spent $6 million on CEO security alone in 2025. The wealthy also invest in physical infrastructure: Rising S Company (Texas-based) has built over 600 underground shelters in New Zealand alone, while Vivos Group builds entire bunker communities in South Dakota. Mark Zuckerberg's Hawaii compound on Kauai includes a 5,000 square foot underground structure.

Citizenship and Residence by Investment

Wealthy individuals are securing alternative citizenships and residences: Larry Page bought New Zealand citizenship in 2021; Peter Thiel obtained his in 2011 after spending only 12 days in the country; Sam Altman and Reid Hoffman own property in New Zealand. Citizenship by investment costs vary significantly: Vanuatu at $130,000 with4-month approval, Saint Kitts at $250,000, Malta at $1 million, and Portugal's golden visa at $500,000 before it was shut down in 2025.

Bill Ackman's Trading Successes

Bill Ackman executed two highly profitable trades in 2020: first, he paid $27 million in premiums for credit default swaps betting corporate bond markets would crash, closing the position 30 days later for $2.6 billion—a 96x return. Later that year, he bet $177 million on treasury options anticipating inflation, exiting 18 months later with $1.25 billion in additional profit, generating approximately $3.85 billion total profit across two trades in roughly one year.

Investment Strategies: Cash Flow vs. Enterprise Value

The wealthiest 1% has shifted 40 to 60% of their portfolios into alternatives and away from public equities. Family office allocation to private markets has risen more than 500% in under a decade, with70% of family offices now engaged in direct private investing according to Citi's 2025 Global Family Office Report. LP positions in private funds require $1 million to $25 million per commitment. The richest people own six to twelve cash-flowing businesses (laundromats, car washes, parking lots, storage facilities, mobile home parks, ATM routes) that each throw off $5,000 to $50,000 per month, totaling $300,000 to $1 million annually. A $2 million boring business throwing off $400,000 per year held for 20 years produces $8 million in cash without selling, whereas a $50 million startup exit may net founders only $1.2 million each after investors, taxes, and dilution.

The Micro PE Wave

Building a company from zero to $10 million takes 5 to 10 years with a 90% chance of failure; buying a $10 million company takes 6 months with an 80% chance of success. The micro PE wave involves the upper middle class buying $2 million to $20 million businesses with seller financing, SBA loans, and partner equity.

Elite Health and Wellness Services

Concierge medicine where doctors take50 patients total and provide personal cell numbers costs $150,000 to $300,000 per year. Korean dermatology is 5 to 10 years ahead of the US in non-surgical aesthetic treatment market, with wealthy individuals traveling to Seoul's Gangnam District for week-long retreats. Stem cell injections in Germany, Mexico, or Costa Rica cost approximately $60,000 per procedure, while Switzerland offers longevity treatments and Tokyo handles difficult medical cases.

Premium Education and Coaching

Executive coaches charge $1,500 to $5,000 per hour, with one app member worth over $50 million spending around $200,000 a year on coaches. High-net-worth individuals hire coaches to compress 10 years of mistakes into 6 months. Alpha school costs $1,500 per week, kids learn approximately 2 hours per day, and the rest of time is spent learning to use AI, with graduates able to attend almost any university. The average cost of a private four-year college in 2026 is over $250,000 for tuition alone, with total cost of attendance exceeding $400,000, or closer to $600,000 after-tax.

Exclusive Networks and Lifestyle

The wealthy attend exclusive culture events including Davos in January, the Masters in April, Monaco Grand Prix with yacht hospitality at $500,000, Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, and Art Basel in Switzerland. Dark salons are invitation-only dinners in someone's home with 6-12 people, phones in a basket, no photographs or recordings. The wealthy use private messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp groups, and Signal for curated content that cannot be screenshotted, replacing public social media algorithms. Among high-net-worth individuals under 50, religious affiliation has been climbing for the past three years after decades of decline, with faith communities serving as dense networks of high-trust relationships.