• The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 day ago

    I’ve had this same thought. Like, if I ever had the opportunity to be as rich as Bezos or Musk, I don’t think I’d make it because I would’ve stopped so much earlier.

    At a certain point, I’d just think “Sweet, we’re set for life, and I can spend all my time with my wife and kids.” Why would I sacrifice that kind of life just to see numbers on my bank accounts go up in a way that no longer meaningfully affects us?

    • Signtist@bookwyr.me
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      1 day ago

      Plenty of people probably did, but the ones that don’t are the ones that stand out, so they’re the ones we know. Nobody cares about the guy who made a billion dollars and fucked off somewhere; even if they’re still a blight on the country with that much wealth, we’ve got bigger fish to fry.

        • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
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          1 day ago

          Tom is the exact model of how I want to see people get rich. He got his bag and then disappeared off the face of the planet. He’s not in politics trying to enact a cyberpunk state. He’s not in the news every day telling you that if you give your kids a measles shot you’re performing the work of the devil. He’s off on a beach somewhere taking photos because he loves it, not bothering a soul. Tom is an alright dude and I have no problems with him.

    • Sundray@lemmus.org
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      24 hours ago

      Bezos, Musk, et al. feel that they have not yet received what the world owes them. And since that feeling is a form of psychosis, they never will.

    • big_slap@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I’d just think “Sweet, we’re set for life, and I can spend all my time with my wife and kids.” Why would I sacrifice that kind of life just to see numbers on my bank accounts go up in a way that no longer meaningfully affects us?

      I’m sure there are a massive amount of rich people with this mindset. we just don’t hear about it cause the few that keep on getting wealthy for the sake of power ruin it for everybody

    • TachyonTele@piefed.social
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      1 day ago

      Im poor asf and still retired. I’m living this life without the money part. I have zero need to fuck up other peoples lives just because i dont work.

    • notwhoyouthink@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      Me too. Honestly, I’ve gotten to the point where I believe one is actually required to be sociopathic and all that comes with it in order to become that ultra wealthy. Capitalism essentially rewards these traits and concentrates them into the greed for power at the cost of all else that we see as a through line with these people.

      People like us and most everyone else just aren’t wired that way, as ultimately we each have a limit to what and who we are willing to sacrifice for material means. We all have experienced greed to some degree within ourselves, but the difference is that it has a ‘bottom’ so to speak.

    • Kanda@reddthat.com
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      1 day ago

      Because you have a mental disorder forcing you to do anything to feel important and validated as the genius you hope other people will see you as