Why Richard C. Wilson followed up for 12 years to buy Billionaires.com
In 2009 Richard C. Wilson decided he wanted Billionaires.com. The owner asked $1.2 million. Richard followed up every few months for 12 years before he bought it. He tells the story in his talks as a lesson in polite persistence.
The follow-up
Richard says his team checked in with the owner every two to four months. Near the end, the owner told him to go away and said they would never do business with him. Richard messaged once more. Within a day the owner said they would sell if he could close on his terms, and gave him 12 days.
Why he wanted it
Richard gives two reasons. If the site helped him meet even one new billionaire, he figured it would pay off over time. He also believed that studying billionaires would make his team smarter. They would learn how billionaires think and what they want, and how to bring value to them.
What it is for now
Richard says the site does not make money for him. He treats it as a strategic asset that opens doors. He credits owning it with getting replies from people like Mark Cuban and Michael Saylor's team.
His view on no
Richard's takeaway for deals is that no often means not right now. It can reflect the other side's mood, their travel, other deals closing or other headaches that week.
In Richard's words
"In 2009, I had the idea to buy billionaires .com, and the owner wanted 1 .2 million for it." (Richard C. Wilson, Billionaire Insights talk)
"Me following up with Billionaires.com's previous owner for 12 years, every 3 to 4 months, and poking them until they got very annoyed at me." (2026 bootcamp)
"go away, Richard, we're never gonna do business with you." (2026 bootcamp, about 5:31:38)
"And Billionaires.com does not make us a penny." (April 2026 FOC event)
How to use this
- If an asset is scarce, put the owner on a follow-up schedule and keep it for years.
- Stay polite. Richard's last message came right after the harshest no.
- Be ready to close fast. Richard got 12 days.
- Value a strategic asset by the doors it opens, not only by its revenue.
Questions and answers
How long did it take Richard C. Wilson to buy Billionaires.com?
About 12 years. He first wanted it in 2009, when the owner asked $1.2 million, and followed up every two to four months until the owner agreed to sell.
Why did he buy it?
To meet more billionaires and to study how they think, so his team could learn what billionaires want and how to bring them value.
Does Billionaires.com make money?
Richard says it does not make him a penny. He sees it as a strategic asset that gets replies and interviews from very successful people.