How to buy a private jet in 6 hours

I said, "Hey, you guys have a Gulf Stream 550 or 650 for sale? I'm interested in a jet. I got to take delivery by the end of the year." And they're like, that was a phone call he made to me. "Actually, we don't keep jets around; we can't deliver a plane to you for 2 years."

I said, "Okay." I hung up. I knew Gulf Stream was what I wanted to buy. I called my accounting department. I said, "Send Gulf Stream a check for X."

I called the guy back. I said, "Hey, Rick, I know you guys said you don't have a plane available, but I want you to call your accounting department. I sent a little gift to you. Call me back when you get the gift."

He calls me back. He's like, "I've been doing this for 30 years; nobody's ever done that." And he did do that. I remember this very, very clearly. It was probably five years ago.

He called me the week before Christmas and said he wanted to buy a Gulf Stream. He wanted to close by the end of the year. I told him, "I can't do that; you have to do a pre-buy inspection—all this kind of stuff."

He said, "I have to do a delivery. I have to get something by the end of the year. I have to close by the end of the year." I said, "Like, I can't do it. You really can't do it."

The guy called Gulf Stream and did exactly what he said he did. You're just a guy; nobody's ever sent me a check prepaid for a plane. He said, "I'll get busy finding you a plane." Fourteen days later, we took delivery.