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submitted 6 months ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Paywall removed https://archive.is/WGWDo

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[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 332 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

O’Kelley’s [sic] says billionaires represent “such an incredibly ludicrous waste of money in a world where there’s so many people who don’t have that,” but he says actually being one is also “othering”—separating you from the limits and consequences that define normal life. “There’s something about keeping connected to normalcy that is really, really important,” the entrepreneur explains. “I don’t want a yacht and I don’t ever want to be able to be without consequences. I think that’s the biggest risk, is, how can we be accountable when we have so much money we can buy anything?”

He gets it. Past a certain point, wealth erodes your humanity. I think I'd have picked $100M too - at a safe 4% return that's $4M per year, plenty for anybody to live on but not megayacht money.

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 69 points 6 months ago

Motherfucking $4MM total is enough to live on with a return like that.

[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 152 points 6 months ago

Sure, but choosing to live on $160k/yr would be a bit much when you're starting with $1.6B. I can't fault him for still wanting to enjoy being wealthy instead of upper-middle-class and definitely don't think it's reasonable to complain that giving away 95% of his wealth is somehow not enough.

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[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 18 points 6 months ago

Sadly, not necessarily true. In the US, all it takes is one family member with a severe chronic illness tovery quickly erode that to the point that you are back at work. I think $10MM is the magic number but $100MM is a really good number to ensure that you and.your loved ones are taken care of.

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[-] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 31 points 6 months ago

Plenty for a normal yacht, the kind you can sail by yourself or with a partner. Megayachts are basically private cruise ships that need a full staff to sail. Even if I had the money I wouldn’t want that!

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[-] rozodru@lemmy.world 19 points 6 months ago

I've always said If I could have enough where I could purchase in cash a cottage in a small cottage town here in Canada with a top of the line internet connection and I'd never have to work or worry about money for the rest of my life I'd be happy. what would I do? nothing. I'd pursue my hobby projects, more FOSS development, gaming, painting, build model kits, drink beer, eat whatever I wanted, and socialize with as few people as possible.

That's all i want. I just want enough money right now to achieve that.

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[-] ideonek@piefed.social 106 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I reserve my praises until I learn how exactly he gave away the money. Family-controlled foundations that only do political lobbing while avoiding taxes are a thing .

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 69 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I wasn't able to find details with a quick search, but it sounds like it wasn't his own foundation:

After the AppNexus sale, O’Kelley and his wife carefully chose which causes to support. Their donations focus on education, social justice, technology access, and healthcare initiatives.

https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/2025/08/could-you-give-away-1-5-billion-like-this-ceo/

Perhaps the only good billionaire is one who isn't.

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[-] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 6 months ago

well political lobbying would be good if it's lobbying for socialism i'd say

[-] ideonek@piefed.social 20 points 6 months ago

I would argue that legalized corruption is bad, even if you happen to agree with the cause.

[-] shplane@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago

Well, the current method of taking the high ground to make change for good ain’t exactly working out too well.

[-] lapping6596@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago

Lobby for removing that legalized corruption?

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[-] Nightlight17776@lemmy.ca 60 points 6 months ago

Wait is this really a good rich person? I have to think something's up

[-] derry@midwest.social 49 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Gen Xer, we're mostly cool. Still some ass hats but most of us try to be cool, do the right things

[-] SirSamuel@lemmy.world 49 points 6 months ago

Oh, sorry, forgot you were here

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[-] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 53 points 6 months ago

Should have shared the money with the workers who built the company into a $1.6B valuation and worth acquisition.

[-] meliaesc@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago

Jesus Christ, it's never good enough for you, why even bother trying.

[-] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 23 points 6 months ago

Just because he gave it away, doesn't remove his responsibility for how he "earned" it.

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[-] adminofoz@lemmy.cafe 19 points 6 months ago

At the end of the day, stolen wages are still stolen wages.

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[-] thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works 41 points 6 months ago

If only he believed in himself, he could have been a billionaire…

[-] Gates9@sh.itjust.works 39 points 6 months ago

Good for him.

Raise the taxes, remove the cap on FICA contributions, implement universal healthcare.

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[-] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 30 points 6 months ago

I'd take just one single measly Canadian million dollars, buy a ~300-400K small house far from the city with enough land to have peace and quiet, and maybe try a greenhouse for vegetables.

That leaves enough money with what I already have to cover never working again, various moving expenses, some repairs and renos, and maybe the occasional weekend transexual escort in my whirlpool.

[-] Horsey@lemmy.world 19 points 6 months ago

600K definitely can’t cover your incidentals over 20+ years.

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[-] Mike_Hunt@lemmy.ml 30 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

if i ruled the world no single person would have more than 1bn, hence why it would never happen. (id be very unqualified)

[-] blargh513@sh.itjust.works 23 points 6 months ago

Most of the assclowns running shit now are horribly unfit. At least you have some perspective.

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[-] solrize@lemmy.ml 23 points 6 months ago

Russian Nobleman paradox. 100 million is still a lot though. Company was AppNexus, name rings a bell. Sold to AT&T.

[-] bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip 36 points 6 months ago

Even still, $100m is more than enough to live a very comfortable life and secure your family's future. No one needs $1b.

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[-] AmbitiousProcess@piefed.social 16 points 6 months ago

100 million is still a lot though.

To be fair, the article does mention that he's considering using that as a way to fund his current startup if it ever needs a cash injection, rather than turning straight to more VCs, which is probably good in the long run in terms of reducing how much the company could have to cater toward predatory investors over customers, so I'd consider at least part of his remaining wealth just a means to fund a separate venture from his private life, but still, he probably does have more than enough even after that.

Also, I'd never heard of the Russian Nobleman paradox before, but I looked it up and it seems interesting. Thanks for sharing it.

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago

I'm not criticizing him for keeping enough to keep him and his family comfortable for a few generations. Giving away a comma is a big request that he did without needing to be asked.

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[-] Vile_port_aloo@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago

How many more people/companies do we need to see doing this before we see change?

I am praising the action not the individual :)

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 19 points 6 months ago

Oh. I thought this was The Onion for a second when I saw the title.

[-] vga@sopuli.xyz 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

$100 million invested into dividend stock would gross him $1-5 million per year. About 1/3 of that will be paid in taxes, depending on what kind of dividends those are.

Me personally, I think I'd be happy with $10 million but I guess you get hungry when there's a lot of food in front of you.

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[-] jacecomix@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 months ago

Just a general reminder to anyone to use a site like Charity Navigator to find good causes to donate to.

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[-] Fedizen@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago

He's not wrong. Being circled by scavengars like some kind of dying leviathan is not a sane way to live.

[-] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 6 months ago

The question is: does it bring lasting benefits to the people?

If he gives away a billion once, eventually it will be consumed and then we're stuck in the same situation again. The rich must give money away repeatedly, that's the only way to sustain society going forward. For that, solid and robust policy changes will have to be implemented.

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this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2025
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