Ask HN: 27, accidentally became wealthy, lost drive. What should I do?

Hi everyone. I'm a random guy based in Munich who got accidentally wealthy and thus lost my drive for pretty much everything.

After my Bachelor in CS I launched three startup, which all failed. So a year ago I decided to enroll in a Masters program at LMU at the age of 26. Back then I was living quite on the edge and thus was very motivated to ace my studies to get into a FAANG company.

Around the same time I also invested all of the ETH I had at the time into an ICO, which turned out quite well for me. In early November I sold everything and after taxes I now own 7.5 million euros. A sum I would have never imagined.

I have no idea what to do with the money. And I also have no idea what to do with my life now. I have not talked to anyone about it but I start to feel fatigued, even though I am not doing much. My motivation for my study is gone, I stopped working out, stopped reading books and am basically becoming insanely depressed in the process. The covid situation is not helping much either.

I am posting this here because I think there might be founders out there who sold their company and experienced similar issues afterwards. How did you get out of this? What can I do?

I am still doing my Master studies and will finish it within the next three semesters but I worry to fall into a void afterwards.

Your priorities and goals have likely changed from earning a living to finding meaningful and fulfilling work and leisure.

When was the last time you traveled overseas? Had a girlfriend? Developed a product or service that had an impact on society? Took up a new hobby that you enjoy?

Once you refocus on creating a new life, you’ll likely find your drive and ambitions returning.

Get a PPL, buy an airplane?

I got into the non profit space, which is really the asset management space, but everyone loves hearing "non profit", and some people act like I'm doing a tour of duty in a war and thank me as if I'm a soldier making the "ultimate sacrifice for god and country". I think other people in the non profit space created and perpetuate this perception, but I inherit it.

underneath that I am passionate about lots of things and the non profit space is surprisingly low tech, especially when it comes to anything crypto and on-chain crypto. so I'm still building and occassionally in that space and noticing all sorts of market needs. which includes then board seats on other non profits.

which means I'm also in the fintech and crypto space, noticing everything else being built, as well as becoming more and more integrated with other "institutional investors", of which the non profit is as well and more.

ultimately you do need to find something you're passionate about, but people don't like hearing about actually achieving having money while doing things to obtain more, so non profit has been a great way for me to blend in.

I also do a lot of socialite stuff and don't like hanging out with crypto people. nobody cares how you can support your lifestyle. its great.

shoot me an email? its in bio

Money is not money. Money is the options to do stuff.

Are you a creative person? Think about what you can do with some of that money that you want to exist. Do that. Money is just what allows you to do whatever you want, at a certain scale.

Do you want to make a business? A community? Hire people? Buy servers? Marketing?

Be creative with your money, that should get your fire back. Please don't spend it in spurious shit, that yacht can certainly be rented on vacation instead of bought, LOL.