Alright, buckle up—this one’s gonna be spicy. You ever wonder why some of the biggest entrepreneurs in the world seem to have that “hustler” mentality? Turns out, criminals and entrepreneurs might have more in common than you’d think. Yep, you heard that right.
According to experts (and some eye-opening real-world examples), both criminals and entrepreneurs thrive on risk, creativity, and the art of persuasion. But before you start thinking Jeff Bezos is running some underground empire, let’s break down the surprising ways these two groups are weirdly similar—without the jail time, of course.
1. Risk-Taking: The Ultimate High-Stakes Game
Both entrepreneurs and criminals have one thing in common: they ain’t afraid to roll the dice. Whether it’s dropping their entire life savings into a startup or running an international smuggling ring (not recommended), they both operate under the same principle—high risk, high reward.
- The Entrepreneurial Hustler: Look at Elon Musk. Dude dumped his PayPal millions into Tesla and SpaceX when people literally laughed at the idea of electric cars and private space travel. Now? He’s laughing all the way to Mars.
- The Criminal Kingpin: On the other side, you’ve got people like Pablo Escobar—who took risks no sane person would, building an empire worth billions by navigating the underworld like a Fortune 500 CEO. But unlike Elon, he didn’t get to retire in peace.
Lesson here? Entrepreneurs gamble on market trends, criminals gamble on getting caught. One wins innovation awards, the other wins court dates.
2. Innovation: Thinking Outside the Law… or the Box
Whether you’re building the next big thing or pulling off a heist, creativity is key. Entrepreneurs innovate to disrupt industries, criminals innovate to stay two steps ahead of law enforcement.
- Jeff Bezos: Transformed how we shop with Amazon, starting with books and ending with, well… everything. He thought outside the box and turned a garage operation into a trillion-dollar behemoth.
- Frank Abagnale (Catch Me If You Can): The guy forged checks so well that banks couldn’t tell the difference. He was so good, the FBI literally hired him to help catch other fraudsters. Innovation? Absolutely—just with fewer spreadsheets.
The takeaway: Entrepreneurs innovate legally. Criminals innovate… let’s just say their R&D is a little more underground.
3. Determination: Quitting Ain’t an Option
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a crime boss, if you don’t have the grit to keep pushing forward—you’re toast. Both groups face rejections, obstacles, and setbacks, but the successful ones are those who stick it out, no matter how rough it gets.
- Steve Jobs: Fired from Apple, came back with a vengeance, and revolutionized tech with the iPhone. He was relentless—refusing to settle for mediocrity and pushing boundaries no one else saw.
- El Chapo: Say what you want about him, but escaping maximum-security prisons twice and rebuilding his cartel empire multiple times takes a kind of relentless dedication most entrepreneurs could only dream of (but maybe in a legal way).
Bottom line? If you’re not obsessed with the grind, you’re out of the game—whether you’re launching a startup or running an empire (a legal one, hopefully).
4. Persuasion: Selling a Dream (Or a Scam)
You can have the best product in the world, but if you can’t sell it—you’re done. Entrepreneurs and criminals alike know how to build influence, convince people, and create loyalty. The only difference? Entrepreneurs are pitching angel investors; criminals are pitching “opportunities” with no refunds.
- Richard Branson: Charismatic, charming, and knows how to sell his vision. Whether it’s Virgin Airlines or space tourism, his ability to get people hyped is unmatched.
- Charles Manson: Yeah, he’s on the dark side of persuasion, but let’s be real—he convinced a whole group of people to do some pretty wild stuff.
Lesson learned: Entrepreneurs use persuasion to grow businesses; criminals use it to build syndicates. Both know how to read people and play the long game.
5. Adaptability: Evolve or Die
Business changes. Law enforcement gets smarter. The ones who survive and thrive are those who can pivot when the game changes.
- Netflix: Started as a DVD rental service, but when streaming took off, they adapted—and now they’re an entertainment powerhouse.
- Cybercriminals: They started with credit card scams, now they’re running elaborate phishing schemes that fool even the most tech-savvy. They stay ahead of the curve (but don’t tell them we said that).
So, What’s the Big Difference?
Look—at the end of the day, the traits that make criminals and entrepreneurs successful are eerily similar. The major difference? Entrepreneurs build, criminals destroy. Entrepreneurs take risks within legal frameworks, criminals push past them.
Here’s the good news: You can have all the hustle, creativity, and persuasion skills without breaking the law. The key is channeling those skills into something that helps people, solves real problems, and builds a legacy.
What Can We Learn from This?
Adapt. The world moves fast—stay ahead of the game.
Take risks—but calculated ones. Don’t let fear stop you from leveling up.
Stay creative. If you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind.
Be relentless. Success belongs to those who don’t quit.
Master persuasion. Whether it’s customers or investors, you need influence.
Criminals and entrepreneurs might share the same skill set, but their outcomes couldn’t be more different. One builds wealth the right way, while the other ends up looking over their shoulder 24/7. So next time you’re grinding away at your startup, just remember—you’re playing the same game, but with a way better rulebook.
Want More?
- Check out Elon Musk’s Masterclass in Risk-Taking
- Read about Steve Jobs’ insane determination
- Learn how to sell anything to anyone with this psychology-backed guide
So, ready to take those criminal-level skills and put them to good use? Let’s get it. 🚀
