Javier Milei, Argentina's President, went on the Lex Fridman podcast.
He revealed:
• How he cut inflation from 54% to 2%
• Why he eliminates 5 regulations per day
• How 50% of Argentina's welfare is stolen
11 insights from Argentina's "madman" (& why Elon's taking notes)🧵
He revealed:
• How he cut inflation from 54% to 2%
• Why he eliminates 5 regulations per day
• How 50% of Argentina's welfare is stolen
11 insights from Argentina's "madman" (& why Elon's taking notes)🧵
1/ The Scale of Argentina's Crisis
When Milei took office in December, the country was in free fall:
• Inflation at 54% in December (17,000% annualized)
• 57% poverty rate in January
• Central bank had -$12B in reserves
• Commercial debt of $50B
• Dividend payments held back of $10B
When Milei took office in December, the country was in free fall:
• Inflation at 54% in December (17,000% annualized)
• 57% poverty rate in January
• Central bank had -$12B in reserves
• Commercial debt of $50B
• Dividend payments held back of $10B
2/ The Chainsaw Strategy
Milei's first move stunned the nation. He grabbed a chainsaw and started cutting.
First went the bloated ministries - from 18 down to 8. Then 50,000 public employees. Finally, he axed all discretionary transfers to provinces.
The establishment trembled. But they missed his deeper strategy:
Milei's first move stunned the nation. He grabbed a chainsaw and started cutting.
First went the bloated ministries - from 18 down to 8. Then 50,000 public employees. Finally, he axed all discretionary transfers to provinces.
The establishment trembled. But they missed his deeper strategy:
3/ The Hidden Corruption
Deep in Argentina's welfare system, Milei discovered a shocking truth. "Poverty managers" - intermediaries who controlled welfare payments - were stealing half the money meant for the poor.
By eliminating these middlemen, the poor instantly got double the money. Without spending an extra peso.
Deep in Argentina's welfare system, Milei discovered a shocking truth. "Poverty managers" - intermediaries who controlled welfare payments - were stealing half the money meant for the poor.
By eliminating these middlemen, the poor instantly got double the money. Without spending an extra peso.
4/ The Impossible Achievement
In just 6 months, he delivered what experts said couldn't be done:
• Brought wholesale inflation down from 54% to 2%
• Made a 15-point fiscal adjustment
• Reduced poverty from 57% to 46%
• Created first fiscal surplus in 123 years
All while maintaining employment levels.
In just 6 months, he delivered what experts said couldn't be done:
• Brought wholesale inflation down from 54% to 2%
• Made a 15-point fiscal adjustment
• Reduced poverty from 57% to 46%
• Created first fiscal surplus in 123 years
All while maintaining employment levels.
5/ The Madman Philosophy
"What's the difference between a madman and a genius? Success."
This isn't just a catchphrase. It's his operating system. When advisors urge caution, he accelerates. When critics demand compromise, he doubles down.
The establishment calls it madness. He calls it conviction.
"What's the difference between a madman and a genius? Success."
This isn't just a catchphrase. It's his operating system. When advisors urge caution, he accelerates. When critics demand compromise, he doubles down.
The establishment calls it madness. He calls it conviction.
6/ The Deregulation Machine
His most innovative creation isn't a policy - it's an entire ministry dedicated to destroying bureaucracy.
Every day, they eliminate between one and five regulations. No exceptions. No sacred cows.
Why? Because complexity is corruption's best friend.
His most innovative creation isn't a policy - it's an entire ministry dedicated to destroying bureaucracy.
Every day, they eliminate between one and five regulations. No exceptions. No sacred cows.
Why? Because complexity is corruption's best friend.
7/ The Historic Scale
History will remember this as the greatest economic transformation in Argentina's history. His reforms are 8x larger than any previous attempt.
And he did it with just 15% of representatives and 10% of senators backing him.
The impossible became inevitable.
History will remember this as the greatest economic transformation in Argentina's history. His reforms are 8x larger than any previous attempt.
And he did it with just 15% of representatives and 10% of senators backing him.
The impossible became inevitable.
8/ The Personal Cost
The pushback was brutal:
• Drones spying on his residence
• Attacks on his family
• Media targeting his father during hospitalization
His response never wavered: "What good is life without freedom?"
This isn't politics to him. It's a moral crusade.
The pushback was brutal:
• Drones spying on his residence
• Attacks on his family
• Media targeting his father during hospitalization
His response never wavered: "What good is life without freedom?"
This isn't politics to him. It's a moral crusade.
9/ The Moses Parallel
Most politicians draw inspiration from poll numbers. Milei looks to Moses.
Why? Because he sees himself as one man with truth on his side, facing the combined forces of corruption, bureaucracy, and entrenched power.
The odds are similar. But so is his determination.
Most politicians draw inspiration from poll numbers. Milei looks to Moses.
Why? Because he sees himself as one man with truth on his side, facing the combined forces of corruption, bureaucracy, and entrenched power.
The odds are similar. But so is his determination.
10/ The Early Results
The data validates his approach. JP Morgan is revising growth projections upward. The peso is stabilizing. Foreign investment is returning.
But perhaps most telling? His approval ratings are higher now than when he took office.
The "madman" is becoming a prophet.
The data validates his approach. JP Morgan is revising growth projections upward. The peso is stabilizing. Foreign investment is returning.
But perhaps most telling? His approval ratings are higher now than when he took office.
The "madman" is becoming a prophet.
11/ The Ultimate Vision
His goal transcends economics. He wants to make Argentina the freest country on Earth:
• Speech (eliminated official advertising)
• Trade (removing import taxes in December)
• Innovation (daily deregulation)
• Personal liberty (ending state control)
His goal transcends economics. He wants to make Argentina the freest country on Earth:
• Speech (eliminated official advertising)
• Trade (removing import taxes in December)
• Innovation (daily deregulation)
• Personal liberty (ending state control)
They still call him "El Loco."
But as Argentina's economy stabilizes, inflation falls, and poverty declines...
The real insanity looks more like accepting a broken system that impoverished millions.
But Milei understood something deeper:
But as Argentina's economy stabilizes, inflation falls, and poverty declines...
The real insanity looks more like accepting a broken system that impoverished millions.
But Milei understood something deeper:
In today's world, radical ideas need radical communication.
He didn't just implement policies.
He spent 3 hours with Lex Fridman explaining his vision in detail - something unthinkable for most world leaders.
His authenticity became his superpower.
He didn't just implement policies.
He spent 3 hours with Lex Fridman explaining his vision in detail - something unthinkable for most world leaders.
His authenticity became his superpower.
This is the new playbook for leadership.
Not just having transformative ideas, but knowing how to share them at scale.
Building trust through transparency. Creating impact while you sleep. Letting your vision spread organically.
The future belongs to those who can communicate clearly.
Not just having transformative ideas, but knowing how to share them at scale.
Building trust through transparency. Creating impact while you sleep. Letting your vision spread organically.
The future belongs to those who can communicate clearly.
Think about it:
How many presidents would discuss economics, philosophy, and personal struggles for hours on a podcast?
How many would openly share their failures and doubts?
This is why Milei's message spreads while others fade.
Want to share yours?
How many presidents would discuss economics, philosophy, and personal struggles for hours on a podcast?
How many would openly share their failures and doubts?
This is why Milei's message spreads while others fade.
Want to share yours?
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To date, we've already helped 60+ founders get 2+ Billion combined views.
Interested in how we can do this for you? Book your free discovery call here: form.typeform.com/to/JWuXNkxQ?ut…
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2 years ago, I cofounded @ThoughtleadrX — a premium personal branding agency for world-class founders, executives, and investors looking to dominate socials.
If you enjoyed this, hit "follow" for more breakdowns!
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