After 13 years in the online space I've come to one major conclusion, our industry is all about ones and zeros... one followed by a comma and a whole bunch of zeros. At first I blamed every pre-pubescent publisher in our space. You know, the ones that feel the need to floss. Whether it be a limited edition Segway sitting on spinning twenty-fours, the biggest diamond encrusted belt buckle you've ever seen, or a pinky ring so large you can see the reflection of your leased phantom in it....one thing’s for sure - You’re not fooling anyone with your big “wannabe” game. Plus, the street lights just came on so you better hurry up and get home before your mommy gets upset. But I recently had an epiphany and realized that the Internet ankle biters are simply taking their cue from the industry giants who are living the lifestyle of the rich and techy. Check out how the founders of our industry are living:
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook
Palo Alto, CA
The 26-year old Harvard dropout is one of the youngest members of the Forbes Richest Americans list with an estimated net worth upwards of $6.9 billion. Zuckerberg joins other Tech CEOs, living in the upper class area of Palo Alto, CA.
Eric Schmidt, Google
Atherton, CA
Google CEO and former Apple, Inc. board member, Eric Schmidt, lives in affluent neighborhood of Atherton, CA. Schmidt's home is valued at $3.7 million and has approximately 4,840 sq ft with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.
Evan Williams, Twitter
San Francisco, CA
Evan Williams, despite being the founder for many internet startups is most notably known as CEO of Twitter. However, we you may not know about Evan is that he purchased a $2.4 million, modern Victorian home that spreads over 3,000 sq ft and has 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms.
Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder
Medina, Washington
Bill Gates with a net worth of over $54 billion is the 2nd richest in the world. He currently resides in a 66,000-sq ft, 8-bedroom, 25-bathroom compound in Medina, WA. Gates' property spans 5-acres and sits on the edge of Lake Washington. His home boasts 6 kitchens, a 60-foot swimming pool, domed library, and 1,000-sq ft dinning hall.
Steve Jobs, Apple, Inc.
Palo Alto, CA
Steve Jobs one of the original co-founders of Apple, joins his fellow CEOs in Palo Alto, California. Jobs spends time with his family in his 1930s Tudor-style home. The residence is 5,768-sq ft, and has 7 bedroom with 4.5 bathrooms.
It's easy to scoff at the younger generation of would-be Web ballers, but really, they're just living the dream that was outlined by those that came before them. Moderation is all well and good, but there's nothing wrong with living it up a bit if you've made it. If rockin' a rolex is how you roll, don't be ashamed. But humility and modesty can add even more game to your game. Look at Zuckerberg’s rental digs or the philanthropic efforts of big baller Bill Gates. Don't be afraid to enjoy success if you've earned it, just strive for balance if you can.
