Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

news.ycombinator.com

91–100 of 157 posts

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#91
"never have to work"?

That doesn't mean anything to me. I want to build things. And some things I want to build cost lots of money.

Robots, micronations, space elevators...

I'd probably buy a good home theatre system, with giantrobotlasers

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#93
post #61

I sold my startup a few months ago for enough cash that I never have to work or worry about money again. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=341565 I went to the most peaceful spot I could find, and relaxed. I did nothing. http://www.vimeo.com/1292105 After only a couple days, it was never more clear that I was never doing anything for the money anyway, and the reason I'm always working, driving, pushing, learning, g…

Although it's a nice success story, you are marginalizing the majority of Americans and, in fact, the majority of people in the tech world, that has to spend a considerable amount of time and effort just to make ends meet. Paying your way through college and dealing with the current lack of jobs means that I can't necessarily just work on what I love and I have to make concessions. It has nothing to do with whether I want to contribute something of worth to society while doing something I love. Its about the hope of being able to do those things without having to wonder whether I'll make it to the end of the month.

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#94
post #61

I sold my startup a few months ago for enough cash that I never have to work or worry about money again. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=341565 I went to the most peaceful spot I could find, and relaxed. I did nothing. http://www.vimeo.com/1292105 After only a couple days, it was never more clear that I was never doing anything for the money anyway, and the reason I'm always working, driving, pushing, learning, g…

Although it's a nice success story, you are marginalizing the majority of Americans and, in fact, the majority of people in the tech world, that has to spend a considerable amount of time and effort just to make ends meet. Paying your way through college and dealing with the current lack of jobs means that I can't necessarily just work on what I love and I have to make concessions. It has nothing to do with whether I…

I totally agree. Like I can spend all my time working on a startup when I work 20hours in a week as an intern and do a very high load class schedule.

I keep telling myself someday...

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#95
post #66

1) Kick myself for not selling six months ago when valuations would have been stupidly higher (relatively speaking). :) I think this is the grown up version of "I'd wish for a million wishes!" 2) If the money is larger than just being comfortably set, I'd split it into two pieces -- one being a charitable giving platform modelled after the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation ( http://www.gatesfoundation.org/grantseeker…

Wouldn't it be easier to just donate it to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation? ;)

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#96
Move to the US. I wouldn't need to be super rich to do this - just have $300k or so in liquid "doesn't matter if I lose it" funds. Yes, the US's immigration rules are tricky ;-)

But then? Pursue all of my crazy number of hobbies to excess. Attend Stanford or a similar institution (for the love of learning, not for a specific goal). Be able to let my wife find the job she wants rather than the one she needs. And so forth.

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#97
post #61

I sold my startup a few months ago for enough cash that I never have to work or worry about money again. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=341565 I went to the most peaceful spot I could find, and relaxed. I did nothing. http://www.vimeo.com/1292105 After only a couple days, it was never more clear that I was never doing anything for the money anyway, and the reason I'm always working, driving, pushing, learning, g…

Although it's a nice success story, you are marginalizing the majority of Americans and, in fact, the majority of people in the tech world, that has to spend a considerable amount of time and effort just to make ends meet. Paying your way through college and dealing with the current lack of jobs means that I can't necessarily just work on what I love and I have to make concessions. It has nothing to do with whether I…

How is he "marginalizing" anybody? He built a business doing something that he loved, it succeeded (Unless I'm misreading you, you appear to be saying "that guy had options I don't have". In my opinion, that's the kind of mentality that causes a person to "marginalize" himself.

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although it's a nice success story, you are marginalizing the majority of Americans and, in fact, the majority of people in the tech world, that has to spend a considerable amount of time and effort just to make ends meet. Paying your way through college and dealing with the current lack of jobs means that I can't necessarily just work on what I love and I have to make concessions. It has nothing to do with whether I…

I totally agree. Like I can spend all my time working on a startup when I work 20hours in a week as an intern and do a very high load class schedule. I keep telling myself someday...

Two pieces of unsolicited advice:

1. You make your own choices, and there's always tradeoffs. It sounds like you've decided that a busy internship and a high load class schedule are more important to you than working on a startup. Own that decision...you'll own the consequences. If you don't feel it's the right path, change it.

2. Be careful about telling yourself someday...it can easily turn into never. Not saying there's not better times for some things than others, but lean towards taking messy plunges rather than waiting for the stars to align.

Re: Ask HN: you're rich, now what?

#99
post #95
post #66

1) Kick myself for not selling six months ago when valuations would have been stupidly higher (relatively speaking). :) I think this is the grown up version of "I'd wish for a million wishes!" 2) If the money is larger than just being comfortably set, I'd split it into two pieces -- one being a charitable giving platform modelled after the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation ( http://www.gatesfoundation.org/grantseeker…

Wouldn't it be easier to just donate it to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation? ;)

It would, and it would arguably be more efficient, too. I'd consider it, depending on the overlap of projects they undertake and the projects I'd prefer to support.
Post reply on HN