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I became a millionaire but felt empty inside

Gary Stevenson always dreamt of getting rich. But when the money started rolling in, so did the questions.

Gary Stevenson grew up poor on the outskirts of London. He would see the skyscrapers of the city’s business district in the distance and dream of working there and becoming a millionaire. When that dream became reality, he fell into depression. He now campaigns against wealth inequality and has written a book called The Trading Game.

Hennah Draaibaar’s grandmother struck gold in Suriname in the 1930s. Just decades after being released from slavery, it was as astonishing discovery for her and her family. But colonial authorities took the gold to the Netherlands, and she never saw it again. Henneh decided to track the gold down and tells Andrea Kennedy what she discovered about her family’s fortune. This interview was first broadcast in 2023.

Presenter: Emily Webb

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Gary Stevenson, with Canary Wharf in the background. Credit: Pal Hansen for Penguin Random House)

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41 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 28 Aug 2024 11:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Aug 2024 17:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Aug 2024 21:06GMT
  • Thu 29 Aug 2024 02:06GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

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