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Comment by orionsbelt | Hacker News Reader

It's not about the money, it's for fun and/or belief in the mission.

I agree with you for someone that has a miserable client-service job, such as an investment banker that is still slaving away so he can keep up with the Joneses.

But Musk, Zuckerberg, Ellison can do whatever the fuck they want. They don't need to take shit from anyone, and they get to build products and shape the world.

Musk, for example, wants to get humans to Mars. To the extent he cares about money anymore, it's in service of that goal, which does require a LOT of resources.

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With a guaranteed salary of $300k/yr and unlimited free time I could do whatever the fuck I want. I'd plant a garden, brew beer, work on fun home/shop automation projects, build cool car stuff. All while being paid handsomely to do so. And I'd travel, go sailing, go hiking, go snowboarding. But I have no delusions of grandeur about "getting humans to Mars" or whatever, that shit sounds stressful, and like a waste of life.

If life is only hedonism to you, then sure. It would be a waste.

"Only" is doing a lot of work there. Life is "only" hedonism for billionaires too--it's just that the things they enjoy are all about controlling other people.

toys and trips for yourself are as far as you can think to do with this hypothetical wealth? are there no other people in your life that you'd take care of and help and yes, spoil? It's your hypothetical wealth and not mine, but (after buying whatever toys I want) I imagine I'd spend my time and money helping other people. Having a workshop with every single tool known to man, all to myself, sounds awesome, but also lonely.

I mean I figured that was a given.. Obviously help the people in your life (and not in your life to the extent possible).. But you should already be doing it anyway wealth or not. I just meant that if I didn't have to work for money anymore it would free up time to do a bunch of things that are otherwise just.. dreams for if I'm able to retire someday. I simply can't imagine the mindset of someone who wouldn't take that at the earliest possible opportunity. Also, it turns out if you have a shop and a ton of free time you can use that to help people ;)

You wouldn’t be able to hire people to enable your vision though.

You’re stuck with standard experiences that any plebeian can buy with money.

That sounds fine by me. Hiring people is work. Managing people is work. It's a fine thing to do if they pay me and I need the money, but I certainly wouldn't seek that out if I didn't have to. I don't suspect many others would either.

"Standard experiences any plebian can buy with money" includes things like westward solo circumnavigation which is a more elite group than humans who have walked on the moon. And you don't really even need that much money to do it. More money wouldn't really make you any more likely to succeed. So not everything comes down to money, you can do some incredible things without much.

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