“If you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.”

Simplified Meaning:

Starting a new airline is incredibly expensive and risky. The quote humorously exaggerates how much money you can lose quickly in the airline business. Imagine you have a billion dollars. If you use that money to start an airline, all the costs of planes, fuel, staff, and regulations could drain your wealth fast, leaving you with much less—like a few million instead of billions. It's similar to someone deciding to open a restaurant without knowing how tough the industry is. Even with a lot of money, the challenges and competition might cause them to lose most of their investment. This quote is saying that certain business ventures, especially airlines, can be so difficult that even those who start with a lot of money can end up losing much of it. It serves as a caution to be aware of the substantial risks involved and to thoroughly evaluate the potential financial impact before diving in.