In this episode of Beyond the Billions, Forbes reporter Simone Melvin joins Deputy Editor Giacomo Tognini to dissect the corporate civil war inside Lululemon. They break down the sudden exit of CEO Calvin McDonald, the infamous sheer leggings scandal that changed everything, and whether competitors like Alo Yoga and Vuori are stealing Lululemon’s crown. Plus, they explore the fascinating psychology of a founder who is making billions elsewhere but still can’t seem to let go of his most notable creation.
00:00 This Week In Billionaires…
02:38 Inside Billionaire Spending Habits
05:08 Chip Wilson: Instrumental To The Apparel Industry
06:44 Lululemon’s Current CEO Gets The Boot
08:13 How The Company Is ‘Losing Its Soul’
11:37 Does Chip Wilson Have A Point?
16:30 The Lululemon Controversy Of 2013
22:55 Lululemon VS. Competitors And Dupes
Read about Lululemon and more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonemelvin/2025/12/20/lululemons-billionaire-founder-has-been-fighting-to-oust-its-ceohe-won-but-hes-still-not-happy/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rashishrivastava/2026/01/21/openevidence-founder-doubles-his-wealth-as-medical-ai-startup-hits-12-billion-valuation/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/01/28/tim-cook-follows-sam-altman-in-addressing-ice-crackdown-and-killing-of-alex-pretti-urges-deescalation/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikestunson/2026/01/27/billionaires-melinda-gates-sam-altman-speak-out-against-ice-minnesota-killings/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=se-breaking
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