Leland Stanford achieved wealth through a monopoly and questionable business practices rather than genuine innovation.

“The Stanfords made their money in very um questionable ways. So just just remember that because this is like such a it's such a great example of American mythmaking where some guy just basically fails upward and becomes super super wealthy and then you know um very shortly after that he becomes lion”

Leland Stanford was not a genuine philanthropist but used the university to launder his ill-gotten gains for a legacy.

“I get the impression or I've actually seen it written that basically they laundered their illotten gains um through the university to to leave a prestigious legacy for themselves instead.”