Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#11

Post by yNeolh » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

AnonHP wrote: post #6

My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulatory issues so much that the “don’t be evil” motto was glaring at their faces and made them uncomfortable enough to step aside and let others run the show (or run things into the ground). This must have allowed them to enjoy their riches in relative peace. Somet…

Yes, that's was exactly the point made by Notch after the Microsoft acquisition of Minecraft isn't? Only that in a lower (not that low) grade... It has to be soul crushing having almost infinite money and not being able to "fix" your brain or buy time...

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#12

Post by throwaway45349 » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

jdm2212 wrote: post #4

throwaway45349 wrote: post #2

Retired, I presume. Sometimes people just want to spend time with their kids and not have to work all the time. And I'm sure he talks to Sundar Pichai all the time, Alphabet/Google was his baby afterall.

He also probably has a lot more time to think about interesting problems now as opposed to 24/7 managing what's basically a giant utility.

Isn't that the whole point of branching off with Alphabet? Seems like a failed experiment if it didn't create a model for new startups to exist under GOOG.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#13

Post by chesterbr » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

AnonHP wrote: post #6

My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulatory issues so much that the “don’t be evil” motto was glaring at their faces and made them uncomfortable enough to step aside and let others run the show (or run things into the ground). This must have allowed them to enjoy their riches in relative peace. Somet…

Last paragraph is the reason why I don't have kids

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#14

Post by chabad360 » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #8

It's funny how Larry Page very much seems to like his privacy these days... after taking it from everyone else.

IIRC, Google's respect for privacy only took a significant downturn only once Page left the company.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#15

Post by benatkin » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:06 PM UTC

I wondered why he doesn't have a personal website and saw that Sergey Brin, Tim Cook, and Elon Musk don't either. Ended up at gatesnotes.com and signing up for Bill Gates' mailing list.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#16

Post by CalChris » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:06 PM UTC

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #8

It's funny how Larry Page very much seems to like his privacy these days... after taking it from everyone else.

Larry didn't take it from anyone. We gave it to him. He just monetized it.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#17

Post by redisman » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:10 PM UTC

paxys wrote: post #9

It was clear years ago that neither he nor Brin were interested running Google day-to-day anymore. I'm actually surprised that every billionaire doesn't do the same after reaching a certain point of success. Like..is calling the shots at Facebook really that big a deal that Zuckerberg spends his life being dragged from one mess to another, put in front of Congress every other week, criticized across the political spe…

He has a lot more power as the CEO of Facebook than "just" a retired billionaire. Which is what humans have craved since the dawn of time.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#18

Post by haswell » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:10 PM UTC

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #8

It's funny how Larry Page very much seems to like his privacy these days... after taking it from everyone else.

While it may be true that what Google has become played a major role in taking everyone's privacy, I don't think it's fair to blame this on Larry. Much like Larry chose to remove himself from the public stage, so, too can we stop using Google products.

I realize it's a bit more complicated than this, but I'm not fond of your take here.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#19

Post by paxys » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:12 PM UTC

redisman wrote: post #17

paxys wrote: post #9

It was clear years ago that neither he nor Brin were interested running Google day-to-day anymore. I'm actually surprised that every billionaire doesn't do the same after reaching a certain point of success. Like..is calling the shots at Facebook really that big a deal that Zuckerberg spends his life being dragged from one mess to another, put in front of Congress every other week, criticized across the political spe…

He has a lot more power as the CEO of Facebook than "just" a retired billionaire. Which is what humans have craved since the dawn of time.

Not necessarily. Bill Gates has a lot more "power" today than he did as Microsoft CEO. And I bet his life is a lot easier as well.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#20

Post by cyberlurker » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:12 PM UTC

paxys wrote: post #9

It was clear years ago that neither he nor Brin were interested running Google day-to-day anymore. I'm actually surprised that every billionaire doesn't do the same after reaching a certain point of success. Like..is calling the shots at Facebook really that big a deal that Zuckerberg spends his life being dragged from one mess to another, put in front of Congress every other week, criticized across the political spe…

It must be at least a little enticing to be one of the most powerful people in the world. I don’t know what his true goals are, but that must contribute a little.