Coca-Cola(US:KO) 财富FORTUNE·2025-09-16 13:03Core Viewpoint - Billionaire entrepreneur Mike Repole advises aspiring entrepreneurs against starting their own businesses, emphasizing the harsh realities often overlooked in success stories [2][5]. Group 1: Entrepreneurial Insights - Repole highlights that the first five years of entrepreneurship are critical for survival, with the constant risk of bankruptcy [2]. - He acknowledges that despite his significant successes, entrepreneurship is fraught with challenges, and many days he felt they might not succeed [5]. - The statistic that over two-thirds of startups ultimately fail is noted, reflecting a growing trend among successful entrepreneurs to candidly discuss the difficulties of starting a business [5]. Group 2: Business Achievements - Repole co-founded Glaceau in 1999, which produced Smartwater and Vitaminwater, achieving over $1 billion in annual revenue by 2007 before being sold to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion [2][3]. - In 2011, he co-founded BodyArmor, which gained prominence after NBA legend Kobe Bryant invested $5 million for a 10% stake in 2014. Coca-Cola later acquired the remaining 85% of BodyArmor for $5.6 billion in November 2021, marking the largest brand acquisition in Coca-Cola's history [3]. - Repole's net worth is estimated at $1.6 billion, primarily due to these successful transactions [4].