About Michael C. Fanning
Please read this in its entirety before consuming any content on this Substack.
The “Delusion” of Greatness: Why Most “Self-Made” Icons are Manufactured
I became a father for the first time in 2023, an event that fundamentally recalibrated my worldview. It forced a realization upon me: those who achieve the pinnacle of success rarely do so by accident. More often than not, they achieve greatness because a parent or guardian empowered them to believe it was their birthright from the moment they could speak.
From Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos to Beyoncé and Lewis Hamilton, the evidence is historically undeniable. These icons didn’t just “stumble” onto their paths; their potential was recognized, engineered, and nurtured in the cradle.
However, after diving into countless biographies and reports on the upbringing of high achievers, I noticed a striking—and somewhat tragic—divergence in how that potential is harnessed.
The Trap of the Gifted
The most naturally gifted children—those with raw, undeniable talent—often emerge from backgrounds where financial resources are scarce. Because of this, their path to prosperity almost always leads through the entertainment industry. Their wealth becomes inextricably tied to their physical performance, their fame, and their ability to manufacture a persona that the public finds likable.
They don’t build systems; they are the system.
Think of Michael Jackson. To address mounting financial pressures, he was forced back onto the stage for the ill-fated This Is It tour—a physical demand his body simply could no longer meet. Or consider the beloved Whitney Houston, who took grueling overseas gigs to cover her bills when what she truly needed was mental and physical rest.
In both cases, the tragedy was rooted in economics. They were raised to please a crowd to survive. As they aged and their bodies began to fail, the physical requirements of “the gift” became a cage. The pressure often manifested in severe addictions—a desperate attempt to numb the pain of a body that could no longer sustain the performance.
The Architects of Wealth: Buffett and Gates
On the opposite side of the spectrum, we find the children who do not possess “stage talents” but are raised to inherit the earth. For these individuals, prosperity is not a result of physical performance; it is a byproduct of Parental Resources and Strategic Networks.
Take, for instance, two of the most cited “self-made” men in history:
Warren Buffett: While the public loves the story of the “Oracle of Omaha” selling chewing gum, the reality is that he was the son of Howard Buffett—a four-term U.S. Congressman and successful stockbroker. Warren wasn’t just “interested” in stocks; he was raised in the halls of power. He was empowered to believe he could master the markets because he was born into the room where the markets were created.
Bill Gates: The mainstream narrative focuses on a “college dropout in a garage,” but the reality is much more calculated. Gates’ father was a prominent, wealthy lawyer, and his mother, Mary Gates, sat on the board of First Interstate Bancorp alongside the CEO of IBM. It wasn’t just Bill’s coding ability that built Microsoft; it was his mother’s connection that helped a small startup secure the deal of the century with IBM.
The “Delusionally High Sense of Self”
My research suggests that when parents intentionally cultivate a “delusionally high sense of self” in a child—even one with zero apparent artistic or physical talent—it creates a psychological armor. When that armor is paired with a parent’s “coincidental” access to capital and social circles, you get the most successful entrepreneurs, investors, and founders of their generation.
These kids don’t need to “please” the public to survive. They don’t have to perform until their bodies break down. Instead, they are taught to build systems that work for them. They don’t want to entertain the masses; they want to own the infrastructure the masses use.
Why This Matters to You
As a new father, this realization changed my strategy. We often focus on finding our children’s “talent,” but the fringe reality is that belief and access outperform raw talent every single time.
Financial prosperity shouldn’t depend on how long your body can dance or how loud you can sing. It should depend on the systems you build and the network you leverage. That is what I intend to teach my child, and that is what we are going to explore on this Substack.
I spent the last 18 years consuming financial and business news that consistently missed the point, buried the lede, and served the interests of a small minority rather than the common citizen (me and you). Eventually, I realized that the “mainstream” isn’t just careful—it’s incentivized to keep you and me (as well as our entire families) following the herd.
I launched this Substack community to go where the mainstream won’t shine a light.
Why “the Michael C. Fanning online community”?
As mentioned above, there are two main components to the success of every single individual; (1) the financial resources they get from their parents/family and even more importantly, (2) the community or network they can leverage to propel their success in society. I received neither at birth, so here I am, busy creating my own community; with all of you!
The Michael C. Fanning online community is a nexus, highlighting the fact that the most objective financial and economic truths are rarely found within the newsroom. They co-exist in the day-to-day experiences of most humans—the poor, the middle class and… the wealthy people.
In late 2019 and early 2020, while the media was downplaying reality, a small group of iconoclasts saw the writing on the wall. That type of courage—the willingness to be “wrong” until you are spectacularly right—is what this platform is built on.
Who is Michael C. Fanning?
Michael C. Fanning was born on Tuesday, 7th April 1987 at exactly 1:45am in Libreville, Gabon. My father, Jacques Adrien Rolagho held a 9 to 5 job his whole life and my mother, Genevieve Mambou was a stay-at home mom. She was my biggest inspiration and taught me at a very young age to be delusional about my ambitions and to always believe in himself first before even expecting anyone else to do so. I am a University gradute holding Bachelors of Commerce with a major in Information Systems and a minor in Finance. I got accepted into an MBA program but I never started it because I quickly realized I did not need it to make more money than the lecturer teaching the MBA candidates. Instead, I started to published entrepreneurship textbooks from my own experiences in business as a founder and a successful investor. I am not a polished “wealth manager” in a midtown office. I am an independent thinker, an award-winning author, a market participant (investor), and a skeptic of the highest order.
I believe in discourse over dogma.
I believe in transparency over “proprietary secrets.”
I believe that you are the only person who should be in charge of your financial future (not your parents, not your spouse, not a conservatorship and last but not least… definitely not the Government).
What You Get Here
By subscribing, you’re getting a look into my personal investment portfolio and my unfiltered thoughts on the world.
The Good: Deep dives into asymmetric setups and macro shifts.
The Bad: Curated content from truth-tellers and irreverent iconoclasts.
The Ugly: Me admitting when I’ve screwed up a trade, a real-estate investment and lost money.
The Standard Warning
Though I can be smart at times, I am also an idiot a lot of times. I get stuff wrong a lot. I write these posts after a couple of Kinderpunsch (virgin Glühwein) sometimes. I hold no licenses, I am not your advisor, and I don’t want to be.
I’m here to think out loud, challenge the narrative, and hopefully get ahead of the pack. If you’re looking for a safe, sanitized “buy list,” you’re in the wrong place. If you’re looking for an honest perspective of building generational wealth, welcome home.
The Michael C. Fanning Disclaimer & Disclosure
This Substack is a collection of my personal thoughts, investment musings, and curated content from sources I respect as independent thinkers and iconoclasts. My original writing is born from a desire to find objective truths in complex financial and social topics—areas where mainstream media often refuses to shine a light.
I believe the mainstream financial narrative often serves the interests of a small minority rather than the common citizen. My goal is to challenge that narrative. However, discourse is the priority here. I trust you, the reader, to take the information provided, do your own due diligence, and draw your own conclusions.
1. Not Financial Advice
Nothing published on Michael C. Fanning’s Substack, Youtube channel(s), Facebook, or associated social media constitutes investment, legal, tax, or medical advice. I am not a financial advisor, I hold no professional licenses or registrations, and I am not qualified to give advice on your personal finances or your life.
Talk to a professional. Consult your own financial advisor, CPA, or therapist before making any decisions based on what you read here. I am just a guy with an opinion and an internet connection. Do your own research.
2. I Get Things Wrong (A Lot)
I am human. I am often wrong, and I frequently lose money on my own investments. For every “win” I mention, assume there are twice as many “losses” I haven’t mentioned yet. Information is provided “as-is” without any warranty of accuracy or completeness. I sometimes write these posts in the heat of the moment or after a long day; typos happen, and opinions shift.
3. Full Disclosure of Positions
I am an active participant in the markets. You should assume that at any time, I may own, or be trading in, the securities, tickers, or assets mentioned in this newsletter. * I may be long, short, or neutral.
My positions can change at any moment, including immediately after (or even during) the publication of a post.
I am under no obligation to update you when I buy or sell.
Never mirror my trades and other investment strategies. If you do, you are doing so at your own extreme risk.
4. No Refund Policy
Due to the time-sensitive and digital nature of financial commentary and market musings, all sales are final. There are no refunds. By subscribing to the paid tier of this Substack, you acknowledge and agree to this policy.
5. Curated & Contributed Content
Content aggregated from other sources is provided either with the explicit permission of the author or under a Creative Commons license. These pieces represent the opinions of their respective authors and have not been fact-checked by me.
6. Limitation of Liability
In no event shall Michael C. Fanning or any affiliated parties be liable for any direct or indirect trading losses or damages caused by information on this site. Use of this Substack is entirely at your own risk. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
