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DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

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21–30 of 97 posts

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#22
post #9

DHH is that rich?

He probably is, but...

An in-law of mine married a guy who spent the first $90,000 he made as a doctor on a Porsche. He owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, just got married and was only making about $120K... He just really wanted a Porsche.

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#23
post #9

DHH is that rich?

DHH is a partner of 37signals. I don't think it's public what his share is but he must be getting a healthy share of the profits. Even if you pluck ignorant yet sane estimates out of the air, it can easily add up.

According to Wikipedia, the Zonda Cinque Roadster is limited to 5 units and costs around $2m, so this is probably a $1.5m-$3m project.

Could DHH have amassed several million in the last few years at 37signals? I can't see why not. Blindly assume they have 100k accounts paying an average of $40 per month (not unreasonable given their price tiers), that's $48m per year. With a typically healthy profit margin, there's no reason why he couldn't be taking a dividend of several million per year.

And with no wife or kids (from what I know), dropping even a quarter of your wealth on a single mindblowing car doesn't strike me as particularly extravagant. After all, some people spend thousands of dollars on a TV when they have barely anything in the bank.

Disclaimer: I have no insider knowledge of DHH's affairs and am just pulling numbers out of my ass that seem possible to me given what DHH and 37signals have said over the years.

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#25

... Am I the only one that thinks it looks hideous?

You must be an Arab. Arabs say somebody's nice car looks "ugly" to misdirect negative spirits and the "evil eye".

"Tufff Tufff Tufff; shoo hai? Lamborghini Murcielago? I have never seen a worse car in my life!"

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#26
post #9

DHH is that rich?

He probably is, but... An in-law of mine married a guy who spent the first $90,000 he made as a doctor on a Porsche. He owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, just got married and was only making about $120K... He just really wanted a Porsche.

I think this is much more likely.

I'm sure he's doing well, but it also sounds like he's a real automotive enthusiast. While $350-500k sounds absurd for a "car", if it is his dream, with how well they've done, and his fees on speaking engagements... that's probably not that far out of reach.

Is it a good investment? In happiness maybe. Some of the best times of my life were taking my car out on the track. I miss it dearly.

After all the shit I've mumbled about him, 37s and rails... that he really wants this car--and appears to know what it is--his stock just went up a bit in my book. Us car guys, we stick together.

-- edit: Just saw someone else posting that it's more like a $1.5m-$3m project. That certainly changes the scale, but I still think the point applies.

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#27
post #3

For a guy running a "lifestyle" business, he's doing pretty good...

Yeah, if this is what founding a "dipshit company" or a "lifestyle business" earns you, count me in.

DHH has a lot of critics, but remarkably few of them drive supercars.

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#28
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes he has. My son has been asking me why I don't have a Zonda. He is 6. I asked him to help by learning python turtle. Can't start them too young.

You think your son can make that much money coding? what opportunities do you see for him? Source them and take a commission, mid two digits, really :-)

I assume he meant for a startup :)

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#29

... Am I the only one that thinks it looks hideous?

It's a bit flashy. I quite like the photo with the overhead view. // Part of me wonders if this is just to go in his anti-VC speeches.. "See - we made a "lifestyle" business and now I drive a custom supercar"

[deleted]

Re: DHH Commissions his own Supercar - the Pagani Zonda HH

#30
post #9

DHH is that rich?

The article also has this..

Heinemeier Hansson is based in Chicago, but since the Zonda was never homologated to U.S. specifications, reports indicate that the owner bought a vacation home in Italy just so he could drive the thing. Now that's dedication.

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