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

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#41

Post by benatkin » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:21 PM UTC

Sebb767 wrote: post #34

benatkin wrote: post #15

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.

Probably because its a lot of work and risk. With such a high profile, controversial points quickly become a lot of trouble. Also, there's a lot of overhead with running and securing the site. So, why bother if you don't have anything interesting to say on there? They are big enough to have Wikipedia host their CV.

Tim Cook and Elon Musk each have twitter accounts. All those points apply except running the site. There's WordPress VIP for that.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#42

Post by foogazi » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:22 PM UTC

Datsundere wrote: post #31

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…

Do you realize 110b is not liquid assets? If he sold all his stock Facebook would plummet into oblivion

He could sell 1b and keep 109b in illiquid assets

Gates still owns a lot of MSFT shares

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#43

Post by tehjoker » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:22 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…

This sounds like a just-so story. Just as likely they are running sensitive projects inside of Google that interface with the government. I am far more likely to believe that than a billionaire simply enjoying their money for its epicurean aspects. Attaining a billion dollars requires the will-to-power. That's not something that goes away.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#44

Post by dumbfoundded » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:22 PM UTC

throwaway45349 wrote: post #12

jdm2212 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Google has created/acquired many useful products other than search. Useful doesn't mean interesting though. Especially if you have essentially infinite money.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#45

Post by goatherders » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:23 PM UTC

refurb wrote: post #35

paxys wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

More power? I would disagree. Maybe more impact, but not more power or influence.

Disagree completely. Bill Gates is easily one of the dozen most powerful people on earth due to connections and money. He is not beholden to shareholders and can apply his considerable influence wherever he likes without getting board approval.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#46

Post by indigochill » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:23 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #33

ilamont wrote: post #5

He used Google+ a lot . Somewhere there's an archive of his old posts.

Oh? What happened to the originals?

Google+ died.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#47

Post by paxys » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:24 PM UTC

cyberlurker wrote: post #24

paxys wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

He has a very strong reputation but does he have more power now? Being CEO of Microsoft when he was was powerful enough to get congress interested...

His foundation has massive political clout, especially in developing countries. And he has no shareholders to answer to.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#48

Post by goatherders » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:24 PM UTC

cyberlurker wrote: post #24

paxys wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

He has a very strong reputation but does he have more power now? Being CEO of Microsoft when he was was powerful enough to get congress interested...

Lol. You think there is a single member of congress that tells their secretary "take a message, ill call him back" when Bill Gates calls?

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#49

Post by wmf » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:24 PM UTC

Datsundere wrote: post #31

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…

Do you realize 110b is not liquid assets? If he sold all his stock Facebook would plummet into oblivion

He can borrow against it and do whatever he wants while maintaining ownership. Whether that's a good idea is debatable.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#50

Post by stickfigure » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 5:25 PM UTC

mjfl wrote: post #36

redisman wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The "thirst for power" is too much of a normie thing for Mark Zuckerberg to be interested in. I feel like he has this genuine delusion that Facebook serves this higher purpose and wants to see it through until people agree with him. I think he would prefer people to consider him as more innovative than Elon Musk than to have 'power'. Whether or not he will achieve this, well...

Plus, nobody wants to go out on a low note.