Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett bizarrely contradicts himself as he shares wise words that Barack Obama 'said to him' - before admitting that he didn't have a conversation with the former US President

Steven Bartlett bizarrely contradicted himself as he claimed ex US President Barack Obama gave him advice - only to clarify that they 'didn't have a conversation'. 

Speaking in an interview with The Times, the British business magnate and Diary of CEO podcaster, 31, revealed how he once shared a stage with the American politician. 

He was referring to the VTEX Day 2019 summit in São Paulo, Brazil, from five years ago.

The social media savvy businessman was telling the outlet about being  'on the verge of urinating into his own underwear' while making a school speech aged 14 - 'fast-forward ten years from that traumatic day, I'm headlining alongside Barack Obama in front of 10,000 people in São Paulo'.

He continued that there are 'two things Barack Obama said to him that he's always remembered' - which were how he made his decision for 'getting' Osama bin Laden and his thoughts on diversity.

Steven Bartlett (pictured last year) bizarrely contradicted himself as he claimed ex US President Barack Obama gave him advice - only to clarify that they 'didn't have a conversation'

But when the Times interviewer asked about the meeting, Steven clarified that they were 'in the same space', and were 'both backstage'.

However, after being prodded on if they spoke to another, the Dragons' Den star admitted they 'didn't have, like, a conversation'.

It's not the first time Steven has name-dropped Barack, 62, while doing press. 

In February earlier this year Steven was speaking to Mel Robbins on the podcast The 51% Rule (and 3 More Strategies to Think Like a Millionaire), when he was discussing the importance of decision-making.

'I thought of Barack Obama, who I spoke with on stage many, many years ago at this event in São Paulo, Brazil,' he explained.

'He was recounting the time he was faced with the decision to fly to Pakistan with those two Apache helicopters with about 50 per cent certainty that Osama bin Laden was waiting in that compound. 

'He was risking two Apache Helicopters of American Lives. He says, on the big decisions in life, you have to get to 51 per cent certainty or as close as you can and make the decision with the peace of mind that you made that decision in that moment with all of the available evidence, and you have to let it go.

'Because we all know in life that the 100 per cent certainty on these big decisions that everyone's seeking only exists in hindsight.'

He was referring to the VTEX Day 2019 summit in São Paulo, Brazil , from five years ago. Barack Obama pictured at the event

When the Times interviewer asked about the meeting, Steven clarified that they were 'in the same space', and were 'both backstage'. Barack pictured at the event in 2019

Steven also recounted the tale in a 2022  episode of his own podcast, the Diary of a CEO.

It's clear that the story has truly resonated with the business expert, who also made a LinkedIn post about the same concept less than a year ago.

'I had the pleasure of speaking at an event alongside Barack Obama in Brazil and he said: "You don't have to get to 100 per cent certainty on your big decisions, get to 51 per cent, and when you get there, make the decision and be at peace with the fact that you made the decision based on the information you had",' he penned. 

'I really believe that overthinking and the procrastination it creates stems from trying to make perfect decisions in a world where perfect decisions only exist in hindsight.

'Get to 51 per cent and make the decision with the peace of mind that you made that decision with the best available information you had.'

He was bringing up the event as far back as 2020, while speaking on the High Performance podcast with hosts Jake and Damian. 

Speaking in an interview with The Times , the business magnate and Diary of CEO podcaster (pictured with his Dragons' Den co-stars) revealed how he once shared a stage with the American politician

In December, when asked by the Guardian who his dream podcast guest would be, he replied: 'Michelle and Barack Obama'. Both pictured in 2016

The influencer was sharing advice for people who are lacking in self-belief.

'It's really about building evidence in your own life by taking these small steps every day,' he said. 

'Just, you know, just do. And that's how I think you build belief. I spoke in front of a couple of people when I was 16. It went really badly. I was shaking so much that I couldn't, read what it's saying.

'And you fast forward 10 years of me just doing that. And I'm on stage, you know, in Brazil with Obama for 15,000 people. I'm doing arenas in Barcelona with 9,000 people. How did I get there? Just doing, you know.'

And Steven may well be manifesting.

In December, when asked by the Guardian who his dream podcast guest would be, he replied: 'Michelle and Barack Obama. And I'd love to interview Elon Musk. Donald Trump? No. I have no interest in interviewing him.'