[Outliers] Jim Clayton: Turning Competitors’ Mistakes Into $1.7B

Farnam Street

by Vicky

October 16, 2025

The incredible story of Jim Clayton and how he built Clayton Homes. When the bank forced him into bankruptcy at 27, he started rebuilding the very next day, following an unconventional playbook: refusing to lower standards, vertically integrating everything, and playing relentless offense during downturns. While the home industry collapsed in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, Clayton … The post [Outliers] Jim Clayton: Turning Competitors’ Mistakes Into $1.7B appeared first on Farnam Street.

Verticals

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Originally published on Farnam Street on 10/16/2025