I'm not saying that PG has built a cult of personality around himself, but rather around the narrative of the ethical, hard-working, pull your own bootstraps, outsider hacker hero.
Think Steve Jobs, Zuck, etc.
Think Steve Jobs, Zuck, etc.
Heh. Are you kidding? Paul Graham could post a fart on Hacker News and it'd get 1200 upvotes in 10 minutes.
PG's reputation, including on HN, is because of his essays and what he did with YC.