Ryan Knutson

Neom was also bleeding money, dysfunction reigned, and very little was actually being built. How long did it take you before you started to think, this is not something that I want to be part of?

That quickly?

That quickly?

That quickly?

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Saturday, April 26th. This episode is the second in our two-part deep dive into Neon. Today's episode, The Emperor's New Clothes. To Tony, one of the most surprising things about Neom was how people approached spending.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Saturday, April 26th. This episode is the second in our two-part deep dive into Neon. Today's episode, The Emperor's New Clothes. To Tony, one of the most surprising things about Neom was how people approached spending.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Saturday, April 26th. This episode is the second in our two-part deep dive into Neon. Today's episode, The Emperor's New Clothes. To Tony, one of the most surprising things about Neom was how people approached spending.

Were you spending enough money?

Were you spending enough money?

Were you spending enough money?

Tony recalls one project he worked on, a hackathon and online leadership program for kids. The idea was to promote Neom's education efforts. There really weren't any kids at Neom yet, since it was still mostly a construction site, so the leadership program was online. And when Tony learned how much he'd been authorized to spend on it, he was flabbergasted. Half a million dollars.

Tony recalls one project he worked on, a hackathon and online leadership program for kids. The idea was to promote Neom's education efforts. There really weren't any kids at Neom yet, since it was still mostly a construction site, so the leadership program was online. And when Tony learned how much he'd been authorized to spend on it, he was flabbergasted. Half a million dollars.

Tony recalls one project he worked on, a hackathon and online leadership program for kids. The idea was to promote Neom's education efforts. There really weren't any kids at Neom yet, since it was still mostly a construction site, so the leadership program was online. And when Tony learned how much he'd been authorized to spend on it, he was flabbergasted. Half a million dollars.

Half a million dollars for some online webinars. For Andy, over at Neom's mountain development, it was the same story.

Half a million dollars for some online webinars. For Andy, over at Neom's mountain development, it was the same story.

Half a million dollars for some online webinars. For Andy, over at Neom's mountain development, it was the same story.

As Andy remembers it, Nadmi had called all of Neom's sector heads together. Andy, plus the heads of the sports sector, the health sector, biotech, energy. Nadmi's message?

As Andy remembers it, Nadmi had called all of Neom's sector heads together. Andy, plus the heads of the sports sector, the health sector, biotech, energy. Nadmi's message?

As Andy remembers it, Nadmi had called all of Neom's sector heads together. Andy, plus the heads of the sports sector, the health sector, biotech, energy. Nadmi's message?

Andy says he'd only managed to spend $200,000 or $300,000.