It's a perspective I think I'll never have. So when he dies, maybe there will be another zero at the end of his bank account balance?
Maybe I'm just lazy, but if I ever managed to save a small fraction of what these high level execs pull in, I would retire. I mean RETIRE retire, not retire and go on to some other position elsewhere.
Think of it. All the resources you'd need to have a lovely home(s), travel wherever you wanted, and be generous to your loved ones and any charitable causes that struck your fancy.
Unless being a comptroller THRILLED me to death, I would be out and done years ago to enjoy the years I have on earth and explore every nook of the planet.
I hear this argument a lot, and for the most part I agree on a personal level. For instance, if I won the lottery (which I don't play) then I would give a sizable amount to charity and spend the rest of my life helping to raise my daughter instead of some stranger, traveling the world as a photographer and spend some time becoming a better painter. I wouldn't just stop doing everything, but focus more on my passions which only pay part of my bills as a designer.
But that's what separates most normal people from the insanely rich. Not all rich peopleespecially those born into riches. I'm talking about first generation rich. Lots of these people are incredibly driven to succeed, even after accomplishing many things. They just keep going because it's in their blood. This is part of why they were able to become rich in the first place, and a good part of the reason why most normal people don't become rich. We're lazier. Not lazyjust not as neurotic as these people who obsess over their work. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. Everyone has their priorities. But trying to get these people to completely retire is kind of like telling them to stop being who they are. They just can't because work isn't work to them. It's another challenge to overcome. It's another reason to keep going. It's their life and they wouldn't choose to do otherwise because it would be less fun to them.
Like most traits, it's admirable to a certain extent. Everything in moderation. If I got bored with my theoretical post-lottery life, I would open up some sort of creative studio. Either gaming, design, or art. Maybe I would make more money, but I'd be having fun. I would probably guess that most people who win the lottery get bored. Maybe because they weren't passionate about anything before they became rich? If you were bored and boring before getting money, then chances are you will be bored and boring after getting money. You'll just feel worse because you'll think "I have all this money, why do I feel this way?" and try to spend yourself into a better life.