How the Ultra-Wealthy Invest After Selling Their Business with Michael Sonnenfeldt

What would you do with $20 million? 

That’s the minimum amount required to join Tiger 21, the exclusive network where ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs learn how to preserve and grow their wealth. 

Michael Sonnenfeldt founded Tiger 21 after selling two companies and realizing that the skills that made him a successful entrepreneur didn’t translate into smart investing. He built the group to help other entrepreneurs avoid costly post-exit mistakes. 

In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, you discover: 

• The #1 investing mistake entrepreneurs make after selling. 

• How the ultra-wealthy structure their portfolios to preserve capital. 

• Why many ex-founders fail as angel investors. 

• The right way to take investment risks without putting your fortune in jeopardy. 

• Why “sticker shock” can catch founders off guard after a sale. 

You don’t need $20 million to benefit from the strategies Sonnenfeldt has uncovered. Whether you’re planning an exit or just curious about how the ultra-wealthy manage their money, this episode will change the way you think about investing. 

Show Notes & Links

Tiger21

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Think Bigger

Definitions

Due-Diligence: This is a comprehensive appraisal of a business or investment undertaken before a merger, acquisition, or investment. It seeks to validate the information provided and uncover any potential risks or liabilities.

Earn-out: This is a financing arrangement for the purchase of a business, where the seller must meet certain performance goals before receiving the full purchase price. It reduces the buyer’s risk and aligns the interests of both parties post-acquisition.

Roll Over Investor: A rollover investor, in the context of selling a business, refers to an individual or entity that rolls some of their proceeds from the sale with the buyer. This strategy allows the seller to defer capital gains taxes and potentially leverage their expertise or resources in a new venture.

About Our Guest

Michael Sonnenfeldt

Michael W. Sonnenfeldt is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. In the 1980s, he led the transformation of the Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, which was then the world’s largest commercial renovation project. He later founded Emmes & Company, a real estate investment boutique that grew to control assets exceeding $1 billion. Currently, Sonnenfeldt serves as Chairman of MUUS & Company LLC, a private investment firm focusing on alternative energy and technology ventures. ​

In 1999, Sonnenfeldt founded TIGER 21, the premier peer-to-peer learning network for high-net-worth individuals, fostering investment acumen and personal development among its members. Beyond his business ventures, he is actively involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly in environmental sustainability and climate change initiatives. In May 2022, he and his wife, Katja Goldman, donated $20 million to establish the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.