Elena Cardone’s life changed the day she watched her best friend die in a house fire. That trauma sent her spiraling into a decade of drugs and alcohol, and as more friends died in the years that followed, she believed she was next. Until one night, a dream forced her to confront the truth: she wasn’t honoring her friend’s life; she was wasting her own. That moment became the turning point that set her on a path to transforming her life and building a $5 billion empire. In this episode, Elena shares how she broke free from destructive patterns and the mindset shifts that transformed her marriage, career, and financial future.

Elena Cardone is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, and real estate investor who has built a $5 billion portfolio alongside her husband, Grant Cardone. She is the co-founder of Cardone Capital, Cardone Foundation, and Cardone Mortgage.

In this episode, Ilana and Elena will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(05:39) The House Fire That Changed Everything

(08:52) How Your Mind Works Against You to Self-Sabotage

(11:21) Moving to Hollywood and Discovering Its Dark Sides

(15:56) How Trauma Almost Cost Her the Right Man

(24:15) The 2008 Crisis and a Marriage Breaking Point

(27:25) How a Nightly Game Built a Billion-Dollar Mindset

(35:41) The Hidden Cost of Believing Money Is Evil

(41:40) Why Great People Attack Your Weaknesses

(46:38) Elena’s Plan to Build Global Influence

(51:29) Q&A: How Do You Get Paid to Speak?

Elena Cardone is an entrepreneur, former actress, podcast host, and the bestselling author of Build an Empire. She is a licensed realtor leading a 500-agent organization with eXp Realty, and has built a $5 billion portfolio alongside her husband, Grant Cardone. Elena is also the co-founder of both the Grant Cardone Foundation, which helps underserved youth understand finance and business, and Cardone Mortgage, which makes homeownership more accessible across all 50 states. 

Connect with Elena:

Elena’s Website: https://elenacardone.com

Elena’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenacardone/

Elena’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenacardone/ 

Resources Mentioned:

Elena’s Book, Build an Empire: How to Have It All:

https://www.amazon.com/Build-Empire-How-have-All-ebook/dp/B09RGHGQ4K 

Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard: https://www.amazon.com/Dianetics-Modern-Science-Mental-Health/dp/B001EPO4Z2