Why do billionaires keep on going about survival?

[Jannes]

From a regular persons POV that can kind of seem surreal - they have enough money to buy everything they could possibly want and could live a super rewarding life with that money but instead they keep on grinding. But a regular person never was in a billionaires shoes, never got a proper taste of power, wasn't exposed to the environment and people a billionaire is everyday, hasn't made the same subtle changes in their lense of looking at reality which justifies their extreme wealth as normal, isnt in their trance. And I mean it's also very counterintuitive to give up wealth and power, I feel like billionaires who spent large amounts of their wealth aren't praised enough. It takes massive amounts of development to do that. Also only a select few make it as a billionaire. People who dont have a grind mentality wouldnt have made it in the first place. 

It took and still takes time for me to realize that billionaires will keep on grinding to expand their wealth. But that realization is key for every member of society to collectively pressure the wealthy for wealth distribution. 

[Princess Arabia]

 

It's never enough for the ego. It's all about more and more. It can't help it. You say they have enough money to live a super rewarding life.....says who. Rewarding how, materialistically. That's not lasting. What is a proper taste of power. What does that even mean. Only a select few make it as a billionaire? So is only a select few still miserable, sad and depressed as a billionaire. 

[Jannes]

1 minute ago, Princess Arabia said:

 

It's never enough for the ego. It's all about more and more. It can't help it. You say they have enough money to live a super rewarding life.....says who. Rewarding how, materialistically. That's not lasting.

No they could put their money in projects that benefit mankind. That would likely be very rewarding. 

1 minute ago, Princess Arabia said:

What is a proper taste of power. What does that even mean.

Money is potential power. If you have an absurd amount of wealth people will let you know that through kissing your ass and so forth. And if you are the boss of a giant company you will feel that power more directly. 

1 minute ago, Princess Arabia said:

Only a select few make it as a billionaire? So is only a select few still miserable, sad and depressed as a billionaire. 

I am not sure how their mind work but I dont think they could be as productive if they were miserable. 

[Twentyfirst]

Once your that deep into the game you can't just leave 

To get there you have to set up so much and then to stay there you have to maintain it

Imagine tellling 10,000 employees to go home and find another way to feed their kids

Or 1,000,000 customers that they won't be getting their medicine anymore

If you are making that much of a dent in society or economy they will notice your absence 

[Princess Arabia]

@JannesJust remember, everything just about magnifies the more money one acquires. It all depends on the person. This is one reason why they never stop. The driving force to get those billions just magnified. Yes, people can be productive and miserable at the same time. Sometimes, it's the need to not feel miserable that drives them to be productive. The depression comes when nothing changes and they realize it's an inside job. 

[Princess Arabia]

Leo's survival series explains survival real well and what it entails. Now, they have identified as a billionaire and have to keep that up and are surviving as that. It's all about what the ego identifies as. 

[LastThursday]

Imagine being a regular Joe or Jo. You have enough to live comfortably in a nice house, and buy all the things you need. Would you want to downgrade that lifestyle? Most wouldn't. It's all relative to your current situation and expectations and identity.

Billionaires are an in ecosystem of other billionaires and lesser millionaires, even if it's a small ecosystem. You don't make billions by chance, it takes a grinding and competitive mindset to get there (maybe there's even genetic character traits there). It would be very hard to just switch off those traits and give up on all the things you identify with: superyachts and fast cars and buying and selling companies and so on. I suspect most billionaires even if they lost their fortune, would still hustle. 

But. There is probably a minimum income - dependent on country - where you can afford all the basics of living without worrying about money. You could argue that anything above that line is pure luxury, entertainment and greed. Then again living isn't just all survival, and all those extra things that money can buy make life worth living and fun.

I suspect many wealthy people give a percentage of their wealth away, maybe for social kudos if not out of of altruism. Bill Gates has his foundation for example.

[Jannes]

37 minutes ago, Twentyfirst said:

Once your that deep into the game you can't just leave 

To get there you have to set up so much and then to stay there you have to maintain it

Imagine tellling 10,000 employees to go home and find another way to feed their kids

Or 1,000,000 customers that they won't be getting their medicine anymore

If you are making that much of a dent in society or economy they will notice your absence 

Well managing a big company can be fulfilling when it is helping the world. But you raise a crucial point, when you have a big company other peoples survival depend on your survival. I mean one could make the company more ethical but I guess there is a tradeoff. If you become too ethical it becomes unsustainable and you go bankrupt and at that point you cant provide any value at all anymore. 

But some people built a giant (unethical) company through a cut throat mentality and end up with absurd amount of wealth they have no real plan with other then expanding. Thats where I see an imbalance due to greed. 

[Jannes]

21 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

Imagine being a regular Joe or Jo. You have enough to live comfortably in a nice house, and buy all the things you need. Would you want to downgrade that lifestyle? Most wouldn't. It's all relative to your current situation and expectations and identity.

Yes because downgrading from a regular Joes lifestyle actually has an impact on your life. Like you cant go out as much, you feel a bit like an outcast in society, you cant invite people to your place, you worry about paying the bills, your place probably really isnt as nice. But after a certain amount of wealth you dont become much happier. I have a graph for you.

Downgrading from a 60 meter super yacht to a 30 meter super yacht doesnt actually make a difference. 

21 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

Billionaires are an in ecosystem of other billionaires and lesser millionaires, even if it's a small ecosystem. You don't make billions by chance, it takes a grinding and competitive mindset to get there (maybe there's even genetic character traits there). It would be very hard to just switch off those traits and give up on all the things you identify with: superyachts and fast cars and buying and selling companies and so on. I suspect most billionaires even if they lost their fortune, would still hustle. 

I agree.

21 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

But. There is probably a minimum income - dependent on country - where you can afford all the basics of living without worrying about money. You could argue that anything above that line is pure luxury, entertainment and greed.

Yes we agree here. 

21 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

Then again living isn't just all survival, and all those extra things that money can buy make life worth living and fun.

I disagree. Life isnt about survival but luxury is survival. Luxury is about climbing on the mountain and flexing on everyone that you are above them. 

21 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

I suspect many wealthy people give a percentage of their wealth away, maybe for social kudos if not out of of altruism. Bill Gates has his foundation for example.

A minority of billionaires give away their money but there are a few. 

[Basman]

To get that amount of wealth you have to assume so much responsibility that its hard to relate to for average people I believe. I can see experienced wellbeing dipping slightly after a certain amount due to the amount of work and stress you generally need to undertake to reach and maintain those levels of wealth.

[Twentyfirst]

23 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Well managing a big company can be fulfilling when it is helping the world. But you raise a crucial point, when you have a big company other peoples survival depend on your survival. I mean one could make the company more ethical but I guess there is a tradeoff. If you become too ethical it becomes unsustainable and you go bankrupt and at that point you cant provide any value at all anymore. 

But some people built a giant (unethical) company through a cut throat mentality and end up with absurd amount of wealth they have no real plan with other then expanding. Thats where I see an imbalance due to greed. 

I don't think it's unethical because it will go bankrupt as much as it will be unethical because humans are crazy and you somewhat have to smack them down every now and then to get the greater goal accomplish but I think the more skillful you are the less often you have to do it and you can find the more ethical ways of doing it

To the second part I think it's up to people to vote with their money rather than asking some govt to take down these greedy people 

[Jannes]

1 hour ago, Princess Arabia said:

@JannesJust remember, everything just about magnifies the more money one acquires. It all depends on the person. This is one reason why they never stop. The driving force to get those billions just magnified. Yes, people can be productive and miserable at the same time. Sometimes, it's the need to not feel miserable that drives them to be productive. The depression comes when nothing changes and they realize it's an inside job. 

that makes sense. 

[Jannes]

50 minutes ago, Twentyfirst said:

I don't think it's unethical because it will go bankrupt as much as it will be unethical because humans are crazy and you somewhat have to smack them down every now and then to get the greater goal accomplish but I think the more skillful you are the less often you have to do it and you can find the more ethical ways of doing it

I don't think companies or the boss of a company has the goal to be the most ethical. I see it rather that small companies dont have the power to be very unethical and when they finally have the power to act unethical they will. 

50 minutes ago, Twentyfirst said:

To the second part I think it's up to people to vote with their money rather than asking some govt to take down these greedy people 

Yes but people have to be aware of it so that a government can image that will. 

[LastThursday]

58 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Downgrading from a 60 meter super yacht to a 30 meter super yacht doesnt actually make a difference. 

From the relative standpoint of us normal people, it doesn't, because having a yacht of any length would be unusual. But if you're used to a 60 metre yacht, then being forced to downgrade to a 30 metre yacht makes a difference, both to status, and psychologically. It's all relative. Most of the material stuff we own actually doesn't make a direct difference to our survival, but if someone stripped your house of non-essential stuff, I think you'd be bothered, and so it is with a billionaire, same difference.

1 hour ago, Jannes said:

I disagree. Life isnt about survival but luxury is survival. Luxury is about climbing on the mountain and flexing on everyone that you are above them. 

Luxury is a bit more than flexing. It's also about making your life more comfortable or enjoyable. Most of the stuff we own in the West is luxury. Is having a mobile phone about flexing? Not really, it's just something that makes life easier and more enjoyable.

[Rafael Thundercat]

There is even a group Called Thanks God for Bitcoin. Hehe

I am reading the book. The slogan is " The Creation, Corruption and Redemption of Money. 

In their website they say :

"Our goal is to educate and equip Christians to understand Bitcoin and use it for the glory of God and the good of people everywhere."

Also in the book there are links with X accounts of the writers. I am following to keep one eye on the mindset of this niche

https://thanksgodforbitcoin.org

Attention I am not making advertisement of this, this is for perspective taking reasons. 

[Jannes]

4 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

From the relative standpoint of us normal people, it doesn't, because having a yacht of any length would be unusual. But if you're used to a 60 metre yacht, then being forced to downgrade to a 30 metre yacht makes a difference, both to status, and psychologically. It's all relative. Most of the material stuff we own actually doesn't make a direct difference to our survival, but if someone stripped your house of non-essential stuff, I think you'd be bothered, and so it is with a billionaire, same difference.

But you would adapt relatively quickly to a 30m yacht because it's super non essential. Yeah I see the status games. If everyone very wealthy just lost their wealth at the same time and they would all downgrade at the same time reality probably wouldnt change at all for these people, because differences are just in comparison, it takes a lot of shrinking until differences are actually felt. 

I am living a minimalist lifestyle gotcha! 

4 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

Luxury is a bit more than flexing. It's also about making your life more comfortable or enjoyable. Most of the stuff we own in the West is luxury. Is having a mobile phone about flexing? Not really, it's just something that makes life easier and more enjoyable.

Well there are degrees of luxury. I dont see a smartphone as luxury. I think a 60m yacht, a golden watch, exotic alcohol for thousands of dollars, ... all that is luxury and there are many degrees between it. A Mercedes isnt pure luxury but it's beyond comfortable survival for sure. 

[LastThursday]

1 hour ago, Jannes said:

I am living a minimalist lifestyle gotcha! 

I'm a minimalist at heart too, and I find the fact we have billionaires at all obscene. But it is what it is.

1 hour ago, Jannes said:

Well there are degrees of luxury.

Bingo! And the degree is relative to your ability to afford it. I'm sure there are people in the Third World who would look at what we have in the West and think we were living like Kings and Queens, and probably have the same thoughts about us, as we have about billionaires.

Edited yesterday at 04:23 PM by LastThursday

[Hojo]

You might not like your work but you are not in power. If you were in power of a massive corporation you would have fun being in command.

[Leo Gura]

It's not about money. It's about the ego feeling important and significant. Because these people are spiritually bankrupt all they have to live for is the feeling of self-importance they get from achieving ever more. If they stopped they would feel empty and miserable. They would have to do spiritual work from scratch and feel ordinary and lost.

[Basman]

I wrote a huge billion dollar check to myself on a piece of paper. I'll soon manifest my billionaire lifestyle. 

Law of attraction baby 😎. Have fun being poor.