Woz: 'I Am the Happiest Person'
Money, Wealth, and Happiness
- Debate over how much the subject’s happiness is enabled by substantial wealth vs personal disposition.
- Some argue it’s “easy to be carefree” when you never worry about housing, healthcare, or bills; others insist his joyful, honest ethos clearly predated his fortune.
- Several note: money doesn’t guarantee happiness, but lack of money reliably creates stress and grief.
- Viewpoints:
- “Money buys happiness” for those escaping scarcity.
- More nuanced take: money buys options and removes anxiety, but attitude and relationships matter more.
- Observation that many rich people remain miserable, still chasing more.
“Enough” vs the Rat Race
- Discussion of when wealth becomes superfluous; one comment highlights being happy while paying very high taxes as evidence that past some point, extra income adds little.
- Some praise the subject for apparently recognizing “enough” and not grinding for billionaire-level status.
- FIRE-style debate:
- One side: $2–3M can be “set for life” if you live modestly, especially in low-cost areas.
- Others: that’s too low in expensive regions, and often unrealistic outside top-paying US roles.
Character, Generosity, and Civic Attitude
- Multiple anecdotes portray him as consistently kind and unpretentious:
- Acting like a receptionist at a startup office just to greet people.
- Walking dogs in a public park and chatting with strangers.
- Giving practical, human fundraising advice to a random founder in a coffee shop.
- Stories about:
- Trying to help victims of scams using his likeness.
- Sharing upside with early colleagues instead of maximizing his own wealth.
- Some see his comfort with paying high taxes as a genuine sense of civic duty and a form of “real” effective altruism.
Accomplishment, Regret, and Perspective
- One thread explores “secondhand regret” that he sold stock early and missed out on far more billions; others counter that tens vs hundreds of millions are effectively the same in lived experience.
- Reflections that most people never “catch lightning in a bottle” twice and that tying meaning solely to repeated huge wins is unhealthy.
- Comparisons with other tech pioneers who cashed out or were pushed out and then quietly enjoyed life.
- Note that extreme wealth doesn’t prevent illness or early death; time and health can matter more than an extra zero.
Mental Health and Money
- A former software millionaire recounts that money did improve happiness but couldn’t cure clinical depression; they eventually lost their fortune seeking treatment and now live modestly but content.
- Others echo personal struggles, emphasizing therapy, support, and mindset over net worth.