Undercover Billionaire (2019– ) User Reviews

Good overall, but ....

[gdogaru · 7/10 · 22 September 2019]

The show is OK and the lessons are valuable and motivating However I wouldn't call it starting with just 100$ and a car. it is also starting with: * on the spot medical care (when he got ill) * a camera crew from Discovery behind you * people willingly doing stuff for free for you (maybe to get on TV ) * some tires worth 1k$+ just when you were out of money But overall, it is entertaining and worth watching. I just wouldn't be so ambitious with the storyline.

Reality TV done right.

[nar-avetis · 9/10 · 12 April 2021]

Just finished Season 1, and my first impression is that Glenn Stearns is a freaking GENIUS, and a great guy!! He may be the first rich guy that found a way to beautifully bridge the world of the super wealthy with the world of everyday common folk in a really beautiful, relatable, touching and more importantly lasting way. That's very interesting, educational and inspiring to watch. And at the end it just leaves you feeling optimistic for the future.

I don't think I can praise this show enough. It's so good! I'm kinda shocked of how little popularity it has. I only found out about it because Chris D'Elia joked about it on his podcast yesterday. And the premise of the show sounded too interesting to ignore.

The show also uses its own popularity to promote the MacGuffin of the story in a proactive way. Again it's just genius.

I give a standing ovation to everyone involved with the show.

Great job!

Good However !!!

[smitty-38544 · 8/10 · 23 August 2019]

Show me where anybody with no job is going to be given a loan to buy a house by a bank with no JOB... AND a $10,000.00 cash loan to fix the house up with. NEVER going to happen. Never going to happen!!

I really enjoyed it

[mediabham-44907 · 10/10 · 7 August 2019]

Ive only seen the first episode but I can tell that this is a show I'll be watching regularly. Having been in a similar situation and learning how to crawl out of a tough situation, I find it very inspiring. I'm very anxious to see how he pulls it off (creating a million $ business in 90 days). My situation didnt improve as much as Glenn's did unfortunately! (I have to assume he succeeds in his mission because I don't see the show being aired if he doesn't pull it off). To sum up my review: Great show Discovery Channel! I highly recommend it!

This is how you make a documentary TV series

[ivanpetrov-63326 · 10/10 · 13 September 2019]

This is how you make a documentary TV series.

It is well shot, well paced, well edited and follows the story with a great plot. Really interesting concept for the reality show.

I don't care if it's fake, it's entertaining and I enjoy every minute of it.

Interesting and Ambitious!

[kristienoel · 10/10 · 14 August 2019]

Finally, a TV series that makes people think in a positive and in an inspiring way! Everyone should watch this show because it actually teaches ordinary people HOW to get out there and make an honest living! No excuse for laziness and a life of crime stealing from others when YOU can use YOUR brain and make a few bucks with little in your pocket! It proves that you don't have to rely on the government for anything! Get out there an look for creative ways to put money in your pocket - not by stealing, killing someone else because you don't want to work hard to make money. The Government only wants to keep you down and dumb so they can control your mind and make you a slave to them!

One of The Most Heart Warming Series That I've Ever Watched!!!

[collectorofsorts · 10/10 · 8 August 2019]

Basically, the guys story for the locals is that he just gave up his corporate job at age 55 to start his own business and the film crew is documenting his success or failure as he makes the journey, for a TV show. He arrives in the area in a private jet and steps outside as a poor guy, $100 in pocket, a cellphone with no contacts in it and a rickety old truck. From there, he goes to work placing online ads and applying for jobs. By the end of the week, he's turned that $100 into over $400. Honestly, just seeing a Billionaire who isn't scared of manual labor is a breath of fresh air! Watched the 2nd episode this week. It was better than the first. Glen got food poisoning and had to go to the hospital. It didn't stop him for long though. Before the day was out, he was out digging thru trash piles and made either $1500 or 1600 that day selling his finds. He rented a $435 apartment (no more sleeping in his truck) and then made a $700 purchase that he flipped for $3900. I definitely have respect for this guy. Well, tonight was the series finale. And, I have to say that it was incredible! They did a "60 days later" bit also. And, by then, they had a staff of 40-50 workers and there was talk of franchising the brand. Not only that. Glen also started a foundation to help start other small businesses in the local area. And, he made several team members part owners as well as gave everyone who had put in sweat equity checks for their time. It was a truly incredible series!

Entertaining but hard to believe

[SOCOMBrae · 7/10 · 20 August 2020]

Finding tires worth 1500 bucks maybe. Buying TWO cars for a tenth of the price the next week... Come on man lots of people are looking for those deals. It's was a little hard to believe. The small business center and doing a BBQ place could happen it's just all to hard to believe together. I'm all about the little guy working hard and building a business but this show was a little to fake to take as true life effort and nothing else.

This show is awesome and inspiring!!!!

[cestjake · 10/10 · 18 September 2019]

This show is great for anybody who doesn't believe in themselves and doesn't know if they're good enough to chase their dreams. Your family, friends, and anybody who isn't you will not believe your most wonderful dreams are possible. Glenn Stearns proves that with a little hard work, patience, and perseverance, everything is possible. Self-esteem and success shouldn't be mutually exclusive. No matter who is in what office of any government, the people will always have the heart, soul, and mind to achieve anything they set out to do. Once you're feeling a little inspired by something, pay it forward!!!! All you need is love. And that's what Undercover Billionaires is about; the intangibles, not millions of dollars.

Interesting and inspiring but not accurate!

[mjschiller-105-313340 · 7/10 · 15 November 2019]

It was a good show and should inspire people but I had an issue with Glenn Stearns getting a home loan using his fake name, so, everything that happened after that should not have happened the way it did. Then there was the valuation, the billionaires from The Shark Tank would have savaged that figure and I bet Glenn Stearns would not have purchase that business at that price with no sales.

A Show Worth Watching

[rodnizenterprises · 10/10 · 12 August 2019]

The lessons within the show alone are invaluable because he can truly be applied in real life to achieve similar results. It just takes a unique perspective in order to assimilate & apply what he's sharing.

I truly hope this show inspires people to realize that it doesn't matter where you're at in life, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Season 1 Great, Season 2 Not so much

[fagta-33258 · 7/10 · 3 February 2021]

I enjoyed season 1 as it seemed more raw and believable. Season 2 seems much more 'produced' and maybe even staged.

Who is going to allow a complete stranger sleep in an expensive looking RV for a week, and even more unbelievable, allow him to borrow his £38K car.

Also another of the billionaires, was given a place to stay by the local state senate candidate, even though she had never met before and was using a fake name and newly created social media platform with 8 followers.

Just seems too hard to believe, although the cameras obv have a lot to do with people wanting to help.

Just another staged show?

[MarkVanViktor · 1/10 · 19 November 2020]

I would like to get real estate loans with no history or stable income over a long period of time too!

But if he used his real name, or Discovery helped him get the loans, the show loses the very idea it's based on. On the other hand, if he got the loan using his show name, it's fraud. But I doubt it, no financial institution gives out a loan without checking the background.

Hey Discovery or any other TV station - if you want to make a great show, do it without a camera crew following the guy. Just hidden microphones and cameras. I would watch every second of that!

So far, pretty good

[AMZCali · 8/10 · 8 August 2019]

I first heard about this billionaire, when he was worth about $100 million, back in the early 2000s. He was living in Orange County CA, building company. I remember hearing his wife say that on their first date, as he was telling her a story about his past, she all of a sudden knew that he was the man she was going to spend her life with. So happy to see that they have been married for 16-years now. I recall that she was a news reporter working in L.A. To help her deal with the rush hour drive, he hired her a personal driver to make the daily commute.

Now about the show. Not much happens in the first episode with regards to seeing him build a business. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this is not like other business reality shows in that the entire season takes us through this one billionaires journey rather than a new store, new billionaire each week.

Even though he states several times, that he has a cover story about why their are cameras following him around, I have to assume that in reality, some if not most of the people in the town, knew right away that all was not as it was presented to them. Let's face it, when was the last time someone made a reality show about a homeless man trying to find a job and create a life in a small town? That's basically the cover story he and the show are claiming to be selling to the small town community.

I plan to DVR the entire season not just because I am an entrepreneur but also because I happen to like the guy as I had a very good impression, reading about him and seeing a video of him in the early 2000s, seeing his home and his wedding that he had in his Newport Beach backyard.

Skip the second season, just watch the first one twice.

[karyparker1 · 9/10 · 17 June 2021]

My husband and I found this show on an airplane. We loved the first season, we've learned so much (from the first season) and applied alot of the ideas to our own life. The second season was far worse though, filled with agendas too. All 3 of the contestants were a bunch of brats.

Must watch tv show

[rachaelhorton · 10/10 · 19 July 2021]

This was an unexpected tv show I decide to watch.

Must say its worth your time and very informative.

If you want to start a business or have a business it's a must watch.

[patriciox · 9/10 · 31 December 2019]

This show is packed with overt and subtle lessons about how to start a business, make money, and manage relationships. I don't necessarily think it's the best reality show/documentary. But for those interested in business it's fascinating.

a European view

[Hans_Wendel_van_Hespen · 7/10 · 8 October 2019]

First of all, a giant thumbs up for this fantastic idea and the audacity to do it. I couldn't wait for every new part of the show, no matter how much critcism I will have later in this text. That's what the show is all about : have a good time, and if it makes you think, even better. With this review, I would like to point out the vision of a European entrepreneur and stress a few elements that were left out -to my humble opinion - by previous reviewers. Take the example of Glenn going to the hospital. The man isn't 18 anymore and that was revealed to him in a clear way. He had to vomit over and over again, so he went. Once there it turned out he was dehydrated and not kept warm enough. In Europe, such a visit would have cost you only the money you would have put in the coffee machine. In Europe every country is much different, but nevertheless. I have had surgery on my head for cancer (that's why I feel somehow connected to Glenn) in London : haven't paid a single dime. Of course, a few things reflect in taxes we pay. But the US isn't tax-friendly either. Because Glenn starts with $ 100, most of the reviewers take it for granted that Glenn must be poor and that he shouldn't have bankaccounts or insurance. This is not necessarily so. Of course, 100 bucks isn't much and it will bring you not very far, but it is just done this way so that everyone can recognize himself in it. To give every body the same start position. Whatever you had or you have, we'll start with 100 bucks. In reality, nobody starts with 100 $. I opened my registration in commerce with 15 bucks in my pocket. 15 years before, this was enough. However, I was a degreed software engineer. My degree wasn't worth a single dime. But the cost to obtain it, didn't have to go off my 15 bucks anymore, and I could start earning the next month 5000 bucks. Therefore, I wouldn't criticize Glenn so much on his « Cadillac » health insurance. Nor on his house that he bought - of course - with his own name. Of course, he couldn't buy it on his artists name. But reviewers forget that we ourselves don't have to buy on our artists' name neither. Therefore, Glenn isn't betraying anybody or his own goal. But, where it deals with the amount of time before you get a house bought : definitely yes, it isn't possible in two days. I believe, not only Glenn did buy the house on his own name, he didn't ask for a loan in the first place, so things could go faster. This, in Europe, wouldn't be possible, because my wife would have to be involved, there is indeed the scrutiny of your income, the credit records and moreover the obligation that the first house you buy must be the one you will be living in. If you're not a home owner yet, you cannot do a buytosell. The process of buying/selling would also take three to four months each, because the Notary has to do a lot of research. But, I'm willing to give Glenn on this idea some credit, cause I'm happy as well when my 1 million dollar company would have taken six months instead of three. It's about the idea. Moreover, it's the ribfest that finally paid most. And there we come to an interesting part. The people who worked at ribfest weren't paid for their work. That was discussed up front, so, okay. What I discovered at the final episode, is that nobody had part of the company. I understood, took for granted, that the people who said yes to the famous question : 'are you in or out ?'would go for an adventure, and if it all worked out, they would have part of the company. But it turned out to my utmost greatest surprise that they got zip. Finding people who are willing to jump in such an adventure, would be very difficult in Europe, not having a part of the company would end up in the strongest expressions of how well you would do by disappearing the fastest possible. And with right, because I feel like this is abuse. No matter the cheques he has written to the people afterwards. What was interesting, is the message that you first must have enough money to be able to live off, before you can start investing time, energy and money into a new project. That took Glenn crucial days of his 90 days he had, for something that in my eyes is out of the subject. I wanted to see how he was going to build his commpany, not how he could turn 30 dollars in 3000 dollars. In fact, by choosing the starting money so low, Glenn had to go through very stringent situations, that delivered nice television, but not really a contribution to the project, but it was taking away crucial days. Having chosen $ 500 to $ 1000, would have been as realistic and as feasable for Mr You-and-I. Well, at least the 500. The most crucial point of the project was actually not the end, but the start. Where he takes the decision to start brewing. I understand the show is for entertainment only, but we were left out of a lot of things here where I was maybe the most interested in. Yes, there was a small glimpse of somebody of the Gannon University's SBDC, who gave some of the utmost simple market research on beer against coffee. When the team was put together, Matt Sanders of the beer wrote a full business plan, but much more of a few intersecting circles were not seeable. The thing is that this is not doing business. Brewing takes a huge time for licences, but also a huge investment of infrastructure and know-how. All of these elements need to be taken into consideration before you start. Glenn should have sit together and all of the data should have contributed already to the business plan. In the show, the plan that Matt made came too late and was not the result of mutual work. Businessplans are more of a European approach, the Americans tend to say :'every businessplan stops with the first customer'. I guess Americans count more on flexibility. But I can't know, because those business angels who always know so well and laugh with us, fundsearchers, also tend not to answer. I have no feedback to do it better the next time. I am very disappointed in the American Venture capital world, for that reason. Maybe that is the reason also why Americans aren't sure any more about their American Dream. When I first saw that in this show, I was astonished. The Americans really have to do something about that, because without hope, life becomes unbearable. But luckily, Glenn and Discovery do their part ! The second part where the show left us, viewers with business experience, on our hunger is there where the restaurant was chosen as direction to pivot to. Good idea to show what is « pivoting » (for more info, read the book « Lean Startup » by Eric Ries), but a restaurant ? Everybody knows this is a businessmodel with very strict margins. Nobody said anything, and went for it. I suspect television has interfered :everybody knows a restaurant , it's visual and stressy. Plays good on tv. I find it very coincidence that the timing of a ninety days period fell so perfectly for the Rib Fest, that I practically cannot believe that this is not prepared. « We're creating a rib restaurant, and tadaa : there is a rib festivity in this city, we find rib fest specialists that have time for these underdogs without a single dime : 'too much coincidence is no coincidence'. What we practically do not see, is the division of the company in three : the restaurant, the selling of the « undergrog » beer, and the selling of the sauces. I did not see until the very latest how a restaurant would get to six figures. Exactly those parts pushing the company over the six figures have been left out (kept secret ?) I was very curious how this professional would choose the business model of his next company with potential, but ... I don't know : from serving coffee (not enough volume) to brewing beer (too much capital, in Europe : the selling of beer is plummeting) to a restaurant. So many other business models , subjects and opportunities were kept undiscovered. Valuation goes easily into high figures, but you don't have that in concrete money into your hand. There are hundreds of different calculating methods. Glenn says : « I finally agreed with the inspector on a value of $ 750.000 », and that is what a valuation is all about : that all agrees on it. But I would have developed this to the viewer a bit more. There is clearly a difference in value of a restaurant and a restaurant with a national brand of sauces and beer. Overall, a good show that was entertaining, made me think, loosened some emotions , made me a bit jealous maybe. I would have made some different choices in the editing clearly. I congratulate Glenn Steurns and his team for their realizations, and wish them all the best.

As a show it is good, but dont take it too seriously!

[nexus-23075 · 8/10 · 3 May 2020]

Yes, as a show it is good as it demonstrated how to work hard, how one person can keep trying to find solutions - this part of the show is true, it is lacking on some of the people.

However, don't take this serious enough to think you can replicate what just happened in the show to create YOURSELF a million-dollar business in 90 days or a year or even longer. just like everyone else mentioned that you can not get a loan when you have nothing, and you can not get 10 people to work for you for nothing, you may get a good friend help you out a couple of hours for a few days, but not to this extent..

Again, a TV show is a TV show, and sit back and enjoy!

Leasons Learned

[anthonydapiii · 6/10 · 1 January 2022]

This first season was extremely helpful in learning how a billionaire thinks.

There is a quote that I'll paraphrase that goes: you should be able to build a mindset and skills to the point of abandoning everything and rebuilding it from scratch on an island.

Meaning, if you built something successful, one's true skills will be tested to see if they can do it again, but with less at their disposal.

Undercover Billionaire are my above thoughts and life realizations manifested into a tv show.

A truly great idea and tough to execute into a show. Wow.

Most inspirational show on TV

[sapphyrez · 10/10 · 18 April 2021]

PLEASE, ignore the miserable haters! This is a MUST WATCH SHOW! Being an Entrepreneur myself, being in the midst of a Covid Pivot, the tips have really given me some much needed confidence to launch my 2nd chance biz with my Covid Discovery Passion which is Art!

Season 2- hooked! Elaine is a ROCKSTAR- just sayin! What each of the 3 did for the communities they were thrust into, the LIVES they changed, watching them become a "real person" again and actually struggle is what made the show.

Watch and learn how the American dream is still alive. Get inspired.

I hope there is a Season 4! As I LOVE the premise of this shpw!

A reality show far from reality

[aplulondon · 3/10 · 5 December 2019]

However appealing the notion that the "American Dream" remains strong, particularly to North American audiences, "Undercover Billionaire" feels completely fabricated, unauthentic and seriously flawed on numerous occasions.

Who manages to sleep (and survive?) in a car wearing only the slimmest of winter jackets when the temperature outside is less than 30 degrees F.? Who runs a car engine for hours without running out of fuel?

Glenn rented an apartment and signed 2 leases for restaurant premises. He would have had to provide personal identification in each situation, thus disclosing his name. The same would have applied for using the small development business centre.

Glenn wouldn't have been able to buy a house and get a mortgage using a false identity, which would have been criminal. Obtaining a mortgage without disclosing one's real name is also fraudulent and any mortgage company would have required personal information disclosing who he really is and his net worth. The later would have made obtaining a mortgage very easy, but I'm very dubious about the very short amount of time it took to buy the house considering the legal and mortgage documentation required. Why didn't he carry out a survey that would have identified the mould problem is another question mark for me, especially when he states that he is an experienced property owner.

If the Underdog BBQ business was incorporated, he would have had to disclose his personal information to someone at some point in time, especially if he ended up being an officer of that company.

Glenn is seen signing cheques ... Was that with a fake signature and thus fraudulent?

And, what about the alcohol license for the restaurant. How did this happen so quickly?

One of the members of the Underdog BBQ team tells a colleague of hers that his research skills on the Internet are poor because he wasn't able to find out who Glenn was. Surprise, surprise! It took me 3 minutes to find a lot about Gleen using a few basic search words in Google and 3 different approaches (each excluding "Underdog" and "BBQ", and one excluding "TV show"). Glenn's personal website was very easy to find.

Glenn is clearly very experienced in business, articulated, structured, well-spoken, charismatic and at ease in front of the camera which, combined, are not traits of your average person.

I find it strange that some of the participants where willing to put their livelihoods and jobs on the line for Glenn, without knowing or at least hoping that there was an opportunity lurking in the background.

Finally, being followed by a camera crew and production staff usually gives a hint to people that something is not normal.

In short, despite its feel-good factor and interesting key learning points about starting and running a business, "Undercover Billionaire" feels fake, unrealistic and completely manipulated to prove a point. In that, it's more a dream than the American Dream.

He used his real name when signing documents.

[chachiclubber · 8/10 · 18 January 2021]

In one of the episodes the narrator says Glenn Stearns (his real name) has got himself a house/lease.

Good for the business starting

[dragana-dabovic · 9/10 · 1 October 2019]

Seems that it is the little school of the enterprenning and seems that there are a lot of real scenes but acquaring the loan from the bank with no deposit, not bank history, not the mortgage is a little bit much staged.Pitty, because the general idea of realizing the American dream in 90 days is wonderfool.

Worth watching!

[unshiftedcolt · 9/10 · 18 September 2019]

From only watching 3 episodes, I can already tell you that this is a show worth watching! It highlights what it means to be american! From the BBQ rubs, beer, and location. This is one of my all time favorites!