$10M and Total Freedom, I Left the Family Empire to Build My Own
$10M and Total Freedom, I Left the Family Empire to Build My Own  
Podcast: Moneywise
Published On: Tue Apr 22 2025
Description: 127 founders (net worth: ~$1M–$100M+) opened up their personal books. Want to see how your finances stack up? https://www.joinhampton.com/wealth-reportShane Cultra walked away from his family's five-generation nursery business—triggered, in part, by watching Succession. Along the way, he built up a $10M net worth, stacked Bitcoin, turned a blog into a domain empire, and made peace with a father who didn’t speak to him for a year after he left.Here’s what we talk about:How Shane went from pit trader to plant farmerThe domain side hustle that cashflows $300K+ a yearBreaking down his $10M net worth: Bitcoin, land, stocks, and side gigsWhy his dad thought success would make him lazyThe real cost of working with family—and why he’d still do it all over againHow Succession mirrored his life and led him to finally walk awayThe awkward equity breakdown: 33%, but no controlSelling a blog for $75K and going all-in on digital real estateWhy he’d rather make $18K for himself than $100K working for someone elseLetting his daughter fail—and why that’s the lesson his dad never learnedHis exact monthly spending: $5,600/month, no mortgage, travel-heavy lifestyleFrom Porsches to a two-door Bronco: redefining what rich looks like$4M in stock holdings (including a $10K Apple investment for his daughter that grew to $400K)Why he's not pushing the family business to the next generation—and what legacy really meansCool Links:If you’re a founder or CEO with $3M+ in revenue or funding, or you’ve sold a company for $10M+, check out Hampton: https://www.joinhampton.com/If you want a cool podcast like this one, check out Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/Check out Shane's blog! https://www.botany.comChapters:A Family Legacy in Crisis (00:00)Shane's Financial Journey (00:31)The Nursery Business Dynamics (04:51)Shane's Early Career and Return to Family Business (09:12)Navigating Family and Business Conflicts (11:49)The Importance of Land Value (16:25)Venturing into Domain Names (17:27)The Unexpected Offer: Selling My Blog (21:07)Family Tensions: Side Income and NFTs (21:43)Measuring Wealth: Personal Stories (23:01)Leaving the Family Business: A Tough Decision (24:59)Reconciliation and Moving Forward (30:42)Advice for Founders with Kids (33:41)Financial Overview and Spending Habits (35:37)Final Thoughts on Family Legacy (39:10)This podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances.Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.Your Host: Harry MortonFounder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.Co-parents a cow named Eliza.