Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa

Episode 292

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Published on:

30th Dec 2025

How Billionaires Avoid Taxes

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Most people think taxes are unavoidable once their investments grow. But billionaires play a completely different game. In this episode, Sharran breaks down the single strategy the wealthiest individuals use to access liquidity without selling assets or paying capital gains taxes.

You’ll learn how securities-based lending works, why borrowing is not a taxable event, and how billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and others use their portfolios as personal banks. More importantly, Sharran explains how this strategy applies to everyday investors with far smaller portfolios.

Sharran also walks through the real risks—margin calls, interest rate exposure, and poor capital allocation—so you understand when this tool is powerful and when it can destroy wealth.

If you want your money to keep compounding while still funding real estate, business growth, or new opportunities, this episode gives you the playbook.

“The greatest hack in wealth creation is to become your own bank so that you can borrow from yourself.”

- Sharran Srivatsaa

Timestamps:

01:16 - How billionaires avoid taxes without loopholes

03:05 - Why selling assets triggers wealth destruction

05:17 - Securities-based lending explained step by step

06:51 - Real example: Borrow vs. sell

10:26 - Margin calls and how investors get wiped out

11:30 - Safe borrowing rules to protect your portfolio

13:23 - How to set up a securities-backed line of credit

15:25 - Key takeaway from today's episode

Resources:

- The Next Billion by Sharran Srivatsaa - https://sharransrivatsaa.substack.com/

- Acquisition.com - https://www.acquisition.com/

- Board Member: ARC Multifamily Real Estate Investing - https://arcmf.com/

- Board Member: The Real Brokerage - https://www.joinreal.com/

Connect with Sharran:

- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/likesharran

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharransrivatsaa/

- X - https://x.com/sharran

- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/sharran

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzpl_gT1bVB1iNZl9yQbWuA?sub_confirmation=1

- Threads - https://www.threads.com/@sharransrivatsaa

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About the Podcast

Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa

Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is the no-fluff, tactical podcast for founders, operators, and underdogs who want to grow with clarity, intention, and results. Hosted by entrepreneur, investor, and operator Sharran Srivatsaa—President and Managing Partner at Acquisition.com—this show cuts through the noise to deliver real-world strategies from someone who's built and exited five companies across multiple industries.

Sharran has helped scale two billion-dollar businesses, served as President of Real (NASDAQ: REAX), and led the 10x growth and sale of Teles Properties to Douglas Elliman (NYSE: DOUG). He brings lessons from Wall Street to Main Street, sharing what actually works—because he’s lived through what doesn’t.

Every episode offers simple, actionable playbooks for those who want to build extraordinary companies without the chaos. Whether you're a scrappy operator, a first-time founder, or a seasoned executive, Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is your blueprint for building with purpose and winning on your terms.

For more free resources, visit Sharran.com

About your host

Sharran Srivatsaa

Sharran is a serial entrepreneur, sought after keynote speaker, and a respected thought-leadership resource for publications such as the Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS magazine, Huffington Post and Forbes.

While Sharran has had 5 exits in the last 19 years, and also a several humbling failed investments and business initiatives. He talks all about them on his top rated Spotify podcast, Business School.

Most recently, Sharran led Teles Properties’ unprecedented 10x growth over 5 years and a 4-year consecutive streak on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies list resulting in its acquisition by national real estate powerhouse Douglas Elliman.

Prior to Teles, Sharran worked at both Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, where he collaborated with management teams of fast-growing businesses around the country on investment advisory and corporate strategy. Sharran also spent several years building recreational programs in the Caribbean, Middle East, and Hawaii for some of the finest international resorts such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, also has deep experience working with technology companies such as Lightera (acquired by CIENA) and Obopay, a fast-growth mobile payments company.

Sharran is a Principal at Srilo Ventures, a multi-factor private investment fund that focuses investing in and advising technology companies and operating businesses in the consumer space. Having successfully completed many acquisitions, joint-ventures, management buyouts, mergers, and capital raises, Sharran serves as a director and advisor on numerous company boards.

He is also a member of the Genius Network, the highest-level marketing mastermind in the world led by whizkid Joe Polish, and also a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO).

After competing on the professional tennis tour, Sharran received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Luther College and his MBA with Honors from Vanderbilt University.