Feb 04 2025 52 mins
I sat down with Ryan Serhant as he shares his remarkable journey from struggling actor and hand model making just $9,000 a year to building one of New York City's most successful real estate empires. He reveals how his father's tough love rule against taking "survival jobs" pushed him to aim higher, and how riding a purple Vespa to client meetings marked his humble beginnings in the industry.
The conversation takes an unexpected turn as Ryan discusses how COVID-19 became his biggest break, creating the perfect opportunity to launch his own company. He also opens up about personal challenges, including his ongoing battle with "Friday scaries" and the therapeutic journey of learning to be a "human being" rather than just a "human doing."
00:00 Introduction and Early Life
01:40 College and Early Career Aspirations
05:22 Struggles and Breakthrough in Real Estate
12:48 Rise to Fame and Million Dollar Listing
19:32 Starting His Own Brokerage
26:03 Raising Venture Capital and Starting a Brokerage
27:36 Challenges of Starting Fresh
29:05 Inflection Points and TV Shows
32:22 Personal Life and Work Balance
38:24 Innovations and Future Plans