What Really Happens at Billionaires' Private Parties (Michael Rubin)
What Really Happens at Billionaires' Private Parties (Michael Rubin)  
Podcast: The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia
Published On: Thu Apr 09 2026
Description: Michael Rubin breaks down the truth about the White Party, why relationships matter more than people realize, and how he thinks about building rooms where power, business, and culture collide. He shares how Fanatics grew into a $40 billion company, why he treats networking as a real business skill, and what most people misunderstand about success. Michael Rubin is the founder of Fanatics and one of the most connected figures in sports, business, and culture. In this conversation, he opens up about the White Party, building authentic relationships, running philanthropy like a business, and the work ethic, resilience, and mindset behind becoming a billionaire.   Chapters 00:00 - Relationships Are Everything  01:25 - The Meek Mill Story That Changed His Life  05:19 - Why He Started Reform Alliance  06:09 - Running Philanthropy Like a Business  09:04 - The Truth About the White Party  12:41 - Sophia’s White Party Fall & Meeting Jay-Z  13:53 - The Only 3 Events He Throws Each Year  15:19 - How He Learns by Talking to People  17:16 - Spotting Young Talent Before Everyone Else  17:54 - Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities & Starting Young  20:10 - What His Kids Have Taught Him  21:46 - Sleeping 4.5 Hours a Night  22:30 - Recovery & Trying to Live Longer  23:19 - Weight Loss, Ozempic & Not Taking Himself Too Seriously  26:10 - If He Lost Everything, How He’d Rebuild  28:02 - The Most Important Early Business Decisions    🔗 FOLLOW US  https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates  https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni  https://www.instagram.com/michaelrubin    🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS  https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts  https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts    📲 Support What We’re Building  Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale.  Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com    About The Burnouts  The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers.  Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more.  Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.