Billionaire Jimmy John Liautaud believes that hard work separates successful business owners from the rest. Liautaud is the founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain. According to the 61-year-old, the concept of work-life balance for entrepreneurs is the biggest lie ever told. His remark appeared in a viral TikTok video.
Anyone trying to build something from nothing has to give everything, according to the billionaire. They cannot expect limits or balance.
“There’s no such thing as work-life balance. When you want to squeeze lemonade out of horses, you have to squeeze really, really hard. To make something out of nothing, there’s no such thing,” he said.
Liautaud’s comment drew comments from other businessmen.
“Do I agree that being an entrepreneur is hard work? Yes. Do I agree that you can’t have work-life balance? No, that’s BS too. Not every business owner wants to be a billionaire, not everyone measures bragging rights by how many hours they work a week,” wrote Doug Winston, CEO – D&M Electrical Contracting.
“Hard work is definitely a key ingredient to success, but the idea that ‘there’s no such thing as work-life balance’ doesn’t sit well with everyone. It’s true for entrepreneurs that the early stages require relentless effort, but long-term overwork can lead to burnout and poor decision-making,” commented financial planner Fiona Menjli.
Bright Fedy Kulafe, who works in logistics, commented: “Strong words from Jimmy John, while his grit and commitment are undeniable, it’s also true that sustainable success often comes from knowing when to stop and recharge. The balance may look different for entrepreneurs, but burnout doesn’t help anyone in the long run.”
Jimmy John Liautaud Net worth
Graduating second to last in his class, Jimmy John Liautaud opened his first sandwich shop in Charleston, Illinois in 1983 at the age of 19. He used a $25,000 loan from his father. He spent the next 36 years gradually and carefully expanding his business.
For the first ten years, he opened and managed only ten locations himself before expanding through franchising. His focused approach helped him build a billion dollar company. The sandwich chain now has more than 2,600 locations in 45 US states.
According to Forbes, Jimmy John Liautaud has a net worth of $2.4 billion ( ₹21,170 million crowns). In 2023, his net worth was $1.3 billion ( ₹11,468 million crowns). His wealth jumped in 2024 and remained stable this year.
