They lose billions in months and hold quarterly board meetings with their children—inside the high‑stakes, high‑reward mindset of the ultra‑wealthy. What is it like to buy a private jet and then lose so much that you have to sell it? Or to take a $1 million European vacation to celebrate a deal closing? I asked the people who have lived it.

I crisscrossed the country to sit down with millionaires and billionaires for the WSJ Money Interview, hearing how the ultrasuccessful make, spend and grow their money. Over eight flights and 14 days on the road, countless hours in interviews and editing, I gained a glimpse of stomach‑churning and euphoric moments that shaped them. I witnessed off‑camera interactions with assistants, friends and family, capturing the human side behind the headlines.

We also had some fun. I quizzed them on whether fortunes ranging from tens of millions to billions were driven by luck or skill, and listened to their candid reflections on risk, resilience and legacy.