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[–] 332 points 1 year ago* (69 children)

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.

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  • [–] 69 points 1 year ago (52 children)

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

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  • [–] 19 points 1 year 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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    [–] 106 points 1 year ago* (10 children)

    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 .

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  • [–] 69 points 1 year ago* (4 children)

    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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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

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  • [–] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

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    [–] 60 points 1 year ago (19 children)

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

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  • [–] 49 points 1 year ago* (12 children)

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

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  • [+] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (8 children)
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    [–] 53 points 1 year ago (15 children)

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

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  • [–] 30 points 1 year ago (10 children)

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

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    [–] 41 points 1 year ago

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

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  • [–] 39 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Good for him.

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

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    [–] 30 points 1 year ago (14 children)

    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.

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    [–] 30 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

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

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  • [–] 23 points 1 year ago (12 children)

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

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year 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.

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    [–] 20 points 1 year 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 :)

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  • [–] 19 points 1 year ago

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

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  • [+] 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
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    [–] 18 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    $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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    [–] 17 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

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    [–] 16 points 1 year ago

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

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  • [–] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    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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