So maybe it's normal or maybe it's not, but I've always thought it would be nice to be rich. I'm totally happy to work for it, although I have trouble wanting to wait for it. But I've always thought that if I can just press past the ten million dollar mark. Maybe a hundred million. Enough to buy a plane, gamble some real money in Las Vegas and only have to do the work you really want to do.
But then I've been reading Alice Schroeder's book about Warren Buffet and I realized something. Well, a number of things. Not only is Buffet someone I've thought (without much to base it on) the guy who worked hard to make his money and probably fits the extreme end of my imagined future. But he's got problems. And not just a few. A lot.
His wife basically left him. Because he's socially unable to have a normal relationship. He focused on work so much it impacted nearly everyone in his personal life. The book details his relationships - he likes people but doesn't appear to have what could be called a passable normal domestic life. And that's just the start.
The money and the exposure of being the "big dog" makes Buffet unable to fail. I'm reading the piece about his investment in Solomon Brothers and how he basically had to step in and take over in hopes that he could help save it. Increasing his exposure to the entire liability dramatically because his money and reputation demanded it. Dealing with the Treasury Department, the SEC, the Fed just to save a company that was bogged down by decisions he didn't make and a position he didn't choose to be in.
So he has a plane. He can fly to New York on a whim. Work late hours and face reporters and argue with the government and get sued. That's what billions of dollars gets Warren Buffet. I wonder if it's worth it.
Maybe I only need $10 million.