Patrick Liotard-Vogt, New Kid On The Block: Swiss Mogul, 25, On Buying Harvey Weinstein's Shares In ASMALLWORLD

Patrick Liotard-Vogt is a 25- year-old with big ideas, and a bank account to finance them. The Swiss media mogul earned his stripes this week when he bought out Harvey Weinstein's shares in the members-only online social community ASMALLWORLD and became the company's Chairman. Here Liotard-Vogt discusses his first encounter with Weinstein, life as a jet setter and his heritage of entrepreneurship at Nestle.

Sabine Heller: How did you and Harvey Weinstein first meet?

Patrick Liotard-Vogt: We met at the AMFAR benefit in Cannes last year. I walked up to him and said, "Hey, I want to buy your shares in ASMALLWORLD" to which he responded, "you need to show up with a lot of money, which I don't think you have." I laughed and said, "I think I have ten times more than you do."

SH: What was it like to make a deal with him?

PLV: I like Harvey. He's very open. I read in the press that he can be difficult, but he was great with me.

SH: Was he a tough negotiator?

PLV: Yes, he was. He is a good strategist, but fair.

SH: Do you have plans to see him again?

PLV: We're planning on having dinner soon.

SH: So why did you want to buy his shares?

PLV: ASMALLWORLD has been around for seven years and the concept is proven. That said, I still see a lot of potential in terms of building the network, improving the technology and adding more services.

SH: How is the concept proven?

PLV: For starters, it's still around. If you look at other social communities, they appear and then disappear. ASMALLWORLD has been able to preserve its market position for more than seven years. The membership is growing. It has gained 60% of members in the last 12 months.

SH: For a community that has historically prided itself on the exclusivity factor and the quality of its membership, how is growth a sign of success?

PLV: Every new person in the network is connected to existing members, so the group continues to share similar values. If you look at the whole world, 500,000 members is nothing. There's quite a lot of room for expansion.

SH: Given the difficulties social networks have had making money, why do you feel ASMALLWORLD is a good financial investment?

PLV: My experience with social communities has always been positive. The communities I have invested in are highly profitable.

SH: Where do you think the ASW brand stands today and how do you think it has changed from 2004 when it was the online stomping ground for the international jet set?

PLV: I've been a member since 2004, and I liked what it stood for then but I do think the brand is more widely recognized now. It's now travel lifestyle oriented.

Patrick Liotard-Vogt with Beyonce Knowles

SH: Where do you live?

PLV: I live in Zurich, Switzerland but I'm getting an apartment in New York. I'm an active investor and I'm excited to be hands on with ASW.

SH: How many other companies are you involved in?

PLV: There are 40 in total. I serve as the Chairman of Poken (www.doyoupoken.com), a social business card company. I'm also the CEO of The World's Finest Clubs (www.finestclubs.com), which is where I see the most synergies with ASMALLWORLD. We work with the best clubs around the world and sell memberships for 2,000 euros a year that provide members free access to clubs, concierge services, reductions on 5 star hotels and upgrades.

SH: With photos of you and different starlets floating around people must think you're quite the jet set playboy.

PLV: I have an intense lifestyle and travel a lot. In fact, I do meet many stars. So yes, I jet set, but it's my job so I don't think I qualify as a classic jet setter.

SH: Are you single?

PLV: No

SH: Do you go out all the time? What are you favorite clubs?

PLV: I used to go out a lot, but not anymore. I prefer a good dinner with friends. My favorite clubs are Baoli in Cannes, Naza in Copenhagen, GreenGo in Gstaad and Babies in Munich.

SH: Do you work hard?

PLV: Very

SH: How much do you sleep?

PLV: On average 4-5 hours a day.

SH: How do you live?

PLV: At the moment I just work. I have so many different projects. I may wake up, work on ASMALLWORLD and then the World's Finest Clubs and then go to my real estate projects. There is so much diversity in my work that I don't need much else. I read a lot--French literature mostly, and I walk. That's where I get my ideas.

SH: Where did you grow up?

PLV: I grew up in Switzerland with my parents, sister and brother. I went to boarding school at Le Rosey.

SH: Do you have a good school story?

PLV: We used to run away a lot in boarding school. The funniest story was probably when we were on a field trip to Paris. I escaped from my hotel room on the 4th floor by tying bed sheets together and climbing down. We then went clubbing at Les Bain Douche, and of course, it was hard to get in. I could have used a Finest Clubs Membership then. We were caught on the way back to our rooms.

SH: What's the most important lesson you've learnt from your family?

PLV: There's a saying from Voltaire's Candide: "Il faut cultiver notre jardin," the essence of which points to the importance of taking care of your inner values. If you have that in order, you can be strong in the face of day-to-day stresses.

SH: You've led a life of privilege. Are you spoiled?

PLV: Not at all. I come from a family that is more about being successful than being rich. We always learned that if you give something you have to get something. My great grandfather was the CEO and Chairman of Nestle. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. That's very motivating.

SH: What makes you tick?

PLV: I love my life. I love working with all these young, creative people. Like with ASMALLWORLD, I got here on Sunday and there's been a great vibe. I have that with all my start-ups.

SH: Tell me about being rich and 25

PLV: I've worked more than a lot of people. I work hard, and I allow myself a comfortable life but, in the end, it's important to maintain a good balance.

SH: Would you say you are old for your years?

PLV: People often say that I'm older. I tend to think so too.

SH: With all the glamour that accompanies your lifestyle, are you ever nervous that people are using you?

PLV: Of course. The thing is that you need to be more intelligent than they are. Ultimately, it has to be a win-win situation. Everyone needs to be happy.

SH: How do you know who to trust?

PLV: I have my close friends and I've had them for the last ten years. I've also been in hard situations, and they were there for me. You trust those who are there for you when you're in trouble.

SH: How do you want to be remembered?

PLV: As an entrepreneur who motivated people and led them to success. I'd also like people to say I was fair, and held important values like trust and generosity.

SH: Words to live by?

PLV: Many people look to the future but forget to live. It's important to live and love now.

SH: What's the most important advice anyone has ever given you?

PLV: I get a lot of advice because I surround myself with people who know more than I do. The best advice in the last few months came from my father. He said to maintain liquidity because there will be good deals available.

SH: What's something that people don't know about you?

PLV: I play the piano

SH: Guilty pleasure?

PLV: I drive too fast

 

Comments

[dougjt]

Interesting... I found another post here with some more info about his strategy http://www.sandbox-network.com/sandbox/sandboxer-acquires-asmallworld/ Premium memberships = concierge services for the super rich?

[Chris1234]

Very disappointed that HuffPo would not disclose that Ms. Heller is a former employee of ASMALLWORLD,

[Happyexpat]

"Il faut cultiver notre jardin,"

Oui, bien sur! And perhaps he could being by doing something useful in Africa to make up for Nestlé
having sent tons of poisoned baby formula to Africa.

[livesbythec]

Fantastic interview Sabine!

[Judah]

Great choice Sabine. Great interview. PLV seems like a good youth. The fact that he was born with a silver spoon makes his being so levelheaded even more impressive than his wealth. Normally, I'm the first to be offended by the excesses of the wealthy. With this kid I believe he's gonna do some good things even if he don't get to solve world hunger.

[gregcha]

I should not hate because he is a silver spooner spending his families money. What I am upset about given all the misery in the world that perhaps the young lad should do some good with his money by assisting organzations ease hunger and poverty...not help other silver spooners find the next party and make jet setting easier. Give me a break, I know this guy is 25, but how shallow does one have to be when you see so much suffering in the world? Wake the F**k Up! Obviously he is not concerned with making a profit given that he has invested in dot coms. I am never buying a CRUNCH bar again!

[Atra]

"I think I was given ten times more money then you..."

[CherrySpring]

Doesn't matter what he was given, it matters what he has done with it. He seems to be a sharp, hardworking, and wise young man. I'm not inclined to be angry with him because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth as he doesn't seem to take it for granted. I found this interview (great job to the author, incidentally) to be quite compelling, and even inspiring to some degree. Your summation is awfully bitter.

[redsongia]

Seriously, if this guy works as hard as he says, he's the only one in all of Switzerland who does.

I've never seen people move as slowly as they do there.

[betweenextremes]

Not too knowledgeable on the subject, are you?

[redsongia]

Swiss Air bought what?

[knosiswar]

Good interview Sabine.

You of course have attracted the whoa-is-me crowd. Haters, don't look know, but there's a chip on your shoulder. Bitter people would miss the part that it's better to be successful than to be rich. Successful, as in doing your best, day to day, whatever come what may, and getting up tomorrow, and doing your best again, and finding reward in playing the hand you were dealt, the best it can be played, as opposed to folding your cards and whining that the other guy always gets the better cards, boo f'n hoo.

Everybody has THEIR burden to bear, and being born into wealth doesn't mean a perfect life. True happiness comes from within, not from without. Just think, this guy grew up in boarding schools. I'm very pleased that I grew up knowing who my family is 365, not just on holidays. Of all the people to complain about, this guy seems to be the exception to the rule of being young and insanely rich, living the fabulous life, just p!ss!ng money down the drain on caviar and Dom Perignon. He sleeps 4-5 hours a day, working to build a better person first and foremost, not a huge bank account.

To the haters, you hurt yourself and those around you with your negativity.

[Sabine Heller - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for everyone's comments. A response to those who take issue with PLV's wealth: Since when is being wealthy and being smart mutually exclusive? My interview tries specifically to challenge preconceived notions about success, entitlement, etc. There are many people who have advantages who, in turn, squander them, and there are many people who have nothing who create opportunities, both for themselves and for their offspring. It seems rather provincial to assume otherwise. To judge someone for being rich is a close-minded as judging them for being poor.

[RobertFromMN]

I'd have respect for him if he earned his own money in an ethical manner. I'd have respect for him if he refused the obscene wealth that was handed to him on a silver platter. But thank God this poor, misunderstood heir has you to advocate for him! We need more people to take up the cause of the super rich, especially those born into great privilege. Enough with these self-righteous do-gooders championing the cause of poor and down-trodden. Who do they think they're impressing? (And they're not going to find a decent husband in Calcutta or Sao Paulo! Just a bunch of flies buzzing around dirty people! Yuck!)

[RobertFromMN]

oops. mean to cut that bit in parentheses out.

[missmaryc]

Just curious...are you suggesting he's not earned money in an ethical manner? What has he done that's unethical? That's a serious question, because if he has been unethical in his business practices, it's something I would have liked to have seen in the piece.

Also, why should he refuse the money that was handed to him? He got lucky by being born into a rich family. If you won the lottery would you refuse the prize? At least the guy is out there working, unlike others who have wealth handed to them on a silver platter (the name Hilton comes to mind).

The author conducted an interesting interview with an interesting subject. Not sure why you have a problem with that.

[rr66]

Another boring ask a rich person interview might as well be tiger beat for billionaires what i really want to know is how did he get Beyonce to pose for a picture oh yeah he is rich come back in twenty years and lets see what he has done for the world except for himself and buying out Harvey Weinstein.

[IDIOTA]

This young man wants to cater to the rich, but his social networks are the prey for the next Maddoff who also knew all the right people.

[fusillijerry]

Don't know them. Don't want to know them.

[newTheory]

SH

Those are some excellent questions.