The Two Lives of Sam Vanderpump: From Chelsea Star to Self-Made CEO
Reality TV offers only a “small snippet” of a person's life, often hiding their true grit. On this powerful episode of the Beyond the Boardroom podcast, podcaster, YouTuber, and speaker Aleksandra King hosts Sam Vanderpump, a star of Made in Chelsea, to unpack his decade-long career as a serial entrepreneur and the near-death experience that reframed his entire existence.
The Serial Entrepreneur: Building Vanderpump FX Sam’s journey began not in the spotlight, but in the trenches of the City's Foreign Exchange (FX) industry at age 18. He worked his way up, co-founding ventures before achieving his goal: sole ownership of his current, successful brokerage, Vanderpump FX. Sam is adamant about his self-made status, noting he inherited debt, not wealth, from his late father. “I’m very invested in my business. I’m a serial entrepreneur.. The whole reality side and the public side of my life has only come around over the last year.”
The Philosophy of Calculated Risk To achieve scale, Sam believes you must be willing to bet on yourself. He views large leaps—even going into debt temporarily—as necessary moves to propel the business forward, distinguishing them from reckless gambles. “The bigger the risks are what slingshot you that extra mile. And if you’re not willing to take the risk, then you’re not willing to be an entrepreneur.”
Lisa Vanderpump's Brutal Business Advice Sam is an undeniable part of the influential Vanderpump family, but his success comes from hard work and advice, not handouts. He credits his aunt, the iconic Lisa Vanderpump, with giving him the tough love needed to leverage his Made in Chelsea platform. “She said, ‘You’re doing this wrong. If you wanna keep doing it, make sure you’re using it to your advantage.’ And that’s the constructive criticism that pushed me.”
Sepsis Survival: A Life-Altering Scare The episode takes a vital turn as Sam recounts his terrifying battle with sepsis, which led to organ failure. His fiancée, Alice, noticing the subtle signs (dry lips, delirium), saved his life. Sam is now an ambassador for the Sepsis Trust, channeling his resilience into a new, focused business drive. “I’m thankful to be alive and, you know, I’m working with Sepsis Trust. I’m working on a new podcast. I’m working on a new business.”
Key Takeaways:
Mindset is Capital: Sam proves that a willingness to work and take calculated risks is more valuable than inherited wealth.
Brand Leverage: Use every platform, including reality TV, as a tool to strategically build your core business.
Prioritise Health: Sepsis is a medical emergency; knowing the signs is crucial for saving your own life or that of a loved one.