What happens to nerds that strike it big early in their careers?
In the experience of my friends and acquaintances, but not me personally (since I don’t fit the description), here are some typical responses: – Go back to grad school, either for something useless but which you really love, or for something arguably career-advancing; – Buy a couple nice cars, a big house in Marin or on the peninsula, realize that your options jackpot wasn’t really all that big, and go back to the grind to send your kids to a nice private school; – Buy a little condo in the city, mostly with cash, and continue to work with a much lower stress level now that you are immune from rent increases. These are all “high tech,” i.e. computer science, folks. I think a lot of computer nerds get into it for love of the game and the money’s just a nice plus. Or, they take the opportunity to rethink priorities and really try to accomplish some goals; I don’t know anyone who’s just wasted away the days after getting a chunk of IPO change.
This isn’t firsthand, and technically it doesn’t specify that the guy wasn’t a founding entrepreneur, but otherwise it seems to fit your criteria. It’s not a very heartening story.
