Billionaire Winners & Losers of 2011

It's probably because I hate commercial air travel so much these days that I frequently remember Gordon Gekko explaining to Bud Fox that rich isn't some working class schmuck flying first class - it's owning your own plane. With that in mind, I present to you the true cheesecake of 2011: guys like Larry Ellison, whose fortune fluctuates by a BILLION dollars a day. It's gotta feel pretty good to lose six billion in a year and know that it ain't no thang but a chicken wang:

52 Comments
 

Probably the main reason I'm trying to pull 7 figures per annum in the next few years is because I hate, hate HATE flying commercial, especially coach. And flying first class is probably the biggest waste of money ever. Might as well burn your money. I'm 99% sure I'll never be wealthy enough to own my own plane, but I think I can be wealthy enough to fly charter.

Array
 
Banker88How is flying first class more of a waste of money than flying charter?

Bro, you didn't just ask that, did you?

When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

Flying first class is just paying 10x as much to get felt up by minimum wage rent-a-cops and only be separated from the detritus of humanity by a thin fabric curtain.

God, I hate poor people.

 
surferdude867
Edmundo Braverman

God, I hate poor people.

Sigh I wish I didn't agree with this.

Sigh I wish Eddie didn't hate me.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
surferdude867
Edmundo Braverman

God, I hate poor people.

Sigh I wish I didn't agree with this.

Sorry, but hope you both lose all your $ one day to feel the hate that ignorant rich ppl like you foolishly treat the poor with...and ya it can happen. Karma goes a long way, try giving $5 to a bum one a week or smthing rather than getting that extra beer that your gut probably doesnt need anyways. Im only a college student working part time and still respect the poor even more than i respect the wealthy because they live harder conditions than you ever will....im bold enough to even say they could out hustle you in banking too considering the fact they are able to live off of practically no food/shelther/shower/clean water for days at a time.

you think IBD is hard? trying being homless. thats like getting butfucked by an MD for your entire life 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

god, its ppl like you two morons that give students and younger ppl like me a selfless egotistical image when i tell ppl i work at an I-Bank and want to be long term in finance.

fuck you.

 
Best Response
USCstudent26
surferdude867
Edmundo Braverman

God, I hate poor people.

Sigh I wish I didn't agree with this.

Sorry, but hope you both lose all your $ one day to feel the hate that ignorant rich ppl like you foolishly treat the poor with...and ya it can happen. Karma goes a long way, try giving $5 to a bum one a week or smthing rather than getting that extra beer that your gut probably doesnt need anyways. Im only a college student working part time and still respect the poor even more than i respect the wealthy because they live harder conditions than you ever will....im bold enough to even say they could out hustle you in banking too considering the fact they are able to live off of practically no food/shelther/shower/clean water for days at a time.

you think IBD is hard? trying being homless. thats like getting butfucked by an MD for your entire life 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

god, its ppl like you two morons that give students and younger ppl like me a selfless egotistical image when i tell ppl i work at an I-Bank and want to be long term in finance.

fuck you.

Wow, you REALLY don't get WSO humor.

Array
 
USCstudent26
surferdude867
Edmundo Braverman

God, I hate poor people.

Sigh I wish I didn't agree with this.

Sorry, but hope you both lose all your $ one day to feel the hate that ignorant rich ppl like you foolishly treat the poor with...and ya it can happen. Karma goes a long way, try giving $5 to a bum one a week or smthing rather than getting that extra beer that your gut probably doesnt need anyways. Im only a college student working part time and still respect the poor even more than i respect the wealthy because they live harder conditions than you ever will....im bold enough to even say they could out hustle you in banking too considering the fact they are able to live off of practically no food/shelther/shower/clean water for days at a time.

you think IBD is hard? trying being homless. thats like getting butfucked by an MD for your entire life 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

god, its ppl like you two morons that give students and younger ppl like me a selfless egotistical image when i tell ppl i work at an I-Bank and want to be long term in finance.

fuck you.

This is such a misconception. All the 'poor' people I know have it pretty easy. First and foremost, they are poor because they put themselves in that position. Instead of studying they were drinking, instead of interning they were spring breaking. I don't have much pity for poor people. They choose to live simple, near responsibility free lives. Of course that choice has consequences, sometimes it's an unsteady stream of shelter and food but most of the time it means they can't buy expensive gadgets. Most 'poor' people in this country have cars, cell phones, tvs, cable, internet and A/C. Sounds fucking terrible, huh?

I've spoken about this before, but I have a buddy who is a cop and he actually conducts some surveys when he encounters homeless people and most of the time he has found that they actually chose to be homeless. Many have said they don't like paying bills and having to worry about going to work so they live under make shift tents in the woods, panhandle for money and drink their lives away.

That has been my experience as well. Most homeless people don't want help getting back on their feet...they just want a handout and they will move along. Yeah, sometimes they go hungry, but they never have to work and in their eyes, that's a good trade.

I have brothers that were homeless for a while...first living in the woods and sometimes in the back of cars or abandoned buildings...and it wasn't because they didn't have help...it was because they choose to be homeless. They can't follow simple rules like don't use drugs and don't commit crimes so they chose to leave my parents house. These are kids that went to good schools, have great parents, 3 older siblings that have all served in the Armed Forces and have some sort of college degree...but they decided to go a different route. Now one is sitting in prison and the other two are back home...at 20 years old...trying to get on their feet.

And I do realize that not everyone fits the above description but in my experience, most do. I know it's tough to grasp for someone who is motivated to accomplish things, it's not an easy subject to wrap your mind around, but take if from someone that has personally dealt with people in this type of situation...most people chose to be where they are.

As for giving homeless people money...stop fooling yourself. Anyone that I know that gives money to homeless people does so because they feel guilty, not because they want to help. If you were truly concerned about someone, find them a church or shelter that will help get them back on their feet, volunteer at a food kitchen or donate your $5 to an organization like the Salvation Army that actually houses people who want to change their situation...don't give it to the bum that wants to buy a $1 McDouble and some malt liquor.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
USCstudent26
surferdude867
Edmundo Braverman

God, I hate poor people.

Sigh I wish I didn't agree with this.

Sorry, but hope you both lose all your $ one day to feel the hate that ignorant rich ppl like you foolishly treat the poor with...and ya it can happen. Karma goes a long way, try giving $5 to a bum one a week or smthing rather than getting that extra beer that your gut probably doesnt need anyways. Im only a college student working part time and still respect the poor even more than i respect the wealthy because they live harder conditions than you ever will....im bold enough to even say they could out hustle you in banking too considering the fact they are able to live off of practically no food/shelther/shower/clean water for days at a time.

you think IBD is hard? trying being homless. thats like getting butfucked by an MD for your entire life 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

god, its ppl like you two morons that give students and younger ppl like me a selfless egotistical image when i tell ppl i work at an I-Bank and want to be long term in finance.

fuck you.

WOW fuck you! "OMG he would be better in IB than you!" Hahaha what a scrub, like every person in this forum works in IB. You sound like a fucking child. And you're talking to people way more accomplished than you.

How are those shitty IB interviews going? Those rejections starting to hurt yet? Yeah bitch-you were applying to shitty banks anyway. Don't worry, with a 3.5 at Marshall you could probably still work at mommy & daddys place in Orange County.

 
Edmundo Braverman
Banker88How is flying first class more of a waste of money than flying charter?

Bro, you didn't just ask that, did you?

When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

Flying first class is just paying 10x as much to get felt up by minimum wage rent-a-cops and only be separated from the detritus of humanity by a thin fabric curtain.

God, I hate poor people.

You do get the luxury of chuckling as the peons file past.

...but other than that, it's a waste.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
Edmundo Braverman
Banker88How is flying first class more of a waste of money than flying charter?

Bro, you didn't just ask that, did you?

When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

Flying first class is just paying 10x as much to get felt up by minimum wage rent-a-cops and only be separated from the detritus of humanity by a thin fabric curtain.

God, I hate poor people.

Hahaha you really hate flying commercial don't you Eddie?

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
Edmundo Braverman
Banker88How is flying first class more of a waste of money than flying charter?

Bro, you didn't just ask that, did you?

When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

Flying first class is just paying 10x as much to get felt up by minimum wage rent-a-cops and only be separated from the detritus of humanity by a thin fabric curtain.

God, I hate poor people.

AHAHAHAHA Eddie this is gold

 
Edmundo Braverman
Banker88How is flying first class more of a waste of money than flying charter?

Bro, you didn't just ask that, did you?

When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

Flying first class is just paying 10x as much to get felt up by minimum wage rent-a-cops and only be separated from the detritus of humanity by a thin fabric curtain.

God, I hate poor people.

Holy fuck. This is a great post.

To be fair though, first class for top foreign airlines like singapore air and united emirates is pretty fucking sweet. But yeah, first class for domestic flights are bullshit. You get slightly more leg room, snacks, and a pillow.

 
Virginia Tech 4everEddie hit the nail on the head. Cheap wine and cookies rather than $6 beer and crackers. That's not at all worth $1500 compared to $300.

When you fly across continents it's even more ridiculous... Also, US commercial airlines are really bad even in comparison to other commercial flight, an ex-colleague of mine once asked for a toothbrush and was told, by the crew woman (I hope that is the PC term) that "that sounds like a personal issue, Sir" !

In comparison, when you fly any top Asian airline you get tucked into your seat by the crew if you happen to fall asleep when your plane takes off... true story...

 

Check out some of those uber first class options on Asian and Middle Eastern airlines. Much more of a difference than cookies v. crackers.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Easier than buying a first class ticket or buying a plane - fly a few million miles on an airline, get 1K/Global Services/Ultra-Platinum-Diamond/whatever else they're called and get upgraded to business class 75-100% of the time free of charge.

  1. Spend the extra money on a nice steak lunch that you can take with you onto the plane.
  2. ????
  3. Profit
Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

Haha yea I would rather be economy class than business if the difference is 10x more just buy a cessena in the upper hundred thousands for a used plane

I want a lady on the street, but a freak in the bed, Go Bucks!!
 
AmbitionHaha yea I would rather be economy class than business if the difference is 10x more just buy a cessena in the upper hundred thousands for a used plane

At 140mph...why don't you just take a greyhound bus lol

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!
 

A few years back our family went all out on a DR trip and got first class tix, top notch rental, etc....The friends we were going with one upped us and got a 19 person charter (wasn't on it tho).

God I hate rich people.

 

End of the day, you still have to take off your shoes when you fly commercial. There are some "reasonably" affordable charter options these days (I'm mostly thinking of startup JetSuite)...

 
CatsLHPEnd of the day, you still have to take off your shoes when you fly commercial. There are some "reasonably" affordable charter options these days (I'm mostly thinking of startup JetSuite)...
mods, can we please stop people from promoting their ventures on here?

By the way, Eddie's rant above is the funniest thing I've read in a while.

 
When you fly private, there's no schedule, no security bullshit, and not even a whiff of the godforsaken unwashed masses in peasant class.

The in-flight experience is great, but that's what really makes flying private so amazing, especially on multi-stop trips. I never had as much much disdain for commercial as I did after I flew priv. for the first time. Though, If I had the means I don't know if I'd purchase one myself because of the insane storage/management costs - prob just make sure I had friends who did.

 
marcellus_wallace
USCstudent26fuck you again and hope my cumshot lands in your wifes mouth after ricocheting off your eye.

you jelly bro?

Haha na son. You're lucky this thread is annonymous or id find you and deck you the fuck out.

 

People actually buy first class tickets?

First class ain't bad when it's a free upgrade. I doubt many people on this forum are chartering flights across the Pacific.

 

Basic rules for not being a piece of shit. 1) Graduate high school. 2) Don't do drugs. 3) Don't commit crimes. 4) Don't have kids if you can't afford them.

 

I'm not trying to be ultra critical here, but how many of us couldn't be diagnosed with something if we wanted to? How many kids have ADHD now? When my parents were kids, they got slapped for goofing off, not medicated. Rates of autism are rising as well. Maybe this is a serious subject or maybe it's coincidental that we also live in a society that needs to be diagnosed and medicated for everything...can't sleep at night., can't stay awake during the day, can't stay happy, too fat, too depressed, too stressed, too anxious, etc...

I'm not trying to be dismissive of these facts/findings...but I've always believed that the less you know about your limitations the better off you are. For many people making excuses is a way of life. If you give them a reason to be shitty, they will be shitty.

The founder of my firm likely suffers from Asperger syndrome yet me has managed to run investment banks and PEGs.

At any rate, 40% is less than half...which would likely indicate that 'most' people choose to be homeless.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
Edmundo Bravermancph kinda beat me to it, duff, but I'm betting the numbers are similar for the population at large.

Fair enough. It's about 20%.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec2_1.html

Still couldn't disagree more with cph on the choosing to be homeless thing. Seems like a ridiculous stereotype based on his anecdotal evidence. But we have already had that argument so no point rehashing.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
duffmt6
Edmundo Bravermancph kinda beat me to it, duff, but I'm betting the numbers are similar for the population at large.

Fair enough. It's about 20%.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec2_1.html

Still couldn't disagree more with cph on the choosing to be homeless thing. Seems like a ridiculous stereotype based on his anecdotal evidence. But we have already had that argument so no point rehashing.

First, I should be clear that most homeless people don't necessarily say, "Dang, I really want to be homeless" but they essentially do so by making poor decisions like choosing drugs and alcohol over school and/or work and family.

I see you have some numbers but, as pointed out above, they aren't significantly different from the population at large. So what else, other than anecdotal evidence, is your assumption based on? And I'm not being condescending or anything...I just think that is how many of us base our decisions...on experience and observations.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

The homeless in Paris fall into one of two categories:

  1. Roma gypsies - these people aren't really homeless, in fact they do quite well in their own community. They just have a centuries-old cultural tradition of begging on the streets. They're as relentless as a dog with two dicks. Seriously. They could give a fucking clinic.

  2. the legitimate homeless - if you're homeless in France, it almost has to be by choice. There are so many social safety nets here it is ridiculous. The homeless guys I encounter (I've only ever encountered one homeless woman who wasn't Roma) pretty much lead a life of leisure that would give a college freshman a run for his money. They lay around the Metro station smoking pot all day. For the most part they don't even ask for money. The exception to this is the guys with all the puppies. They string together three or four doped up dogs that sleep all day and they hang a cardboard "We're hungry" sign.

I have a girl who works for me who is sharp as a tack and just finished her masters degree. She makes €1,400 a month take-home. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to live in Paris on €1,400 a month? I guarantee you that there are some homeless people in this town with a better quality of life than her and she busts her ass at work all day.

And before you ask why I don't pay her better, it's because all the ridiculous French social charges make that €1,400 cost me close to $4,000 USD a month.

 
Edmundo BravermanThe homeless in Paris fall into one of two categories:
  1. Roma gypsies - these people aren't really homeless, in fact they do quite well in their own community. They just have a centuries-old cultural tradition of begging on the streets. They're as relentless as a dog with two dicks. Seriously. They could give a fucking clinic.

  2. the legitimate homeless - if you're homeless in France, it almost has to be by choice. There are so many social safety nets here it is ridiculous. The homeless guys I encounter (I've only ever encountered one homeless woman who wasn't Roma) pretty much lead a life of leisure that would give a college freshman a run for his money. They lay around the Metro station smoking pot all day. For the most part they don't even ask for money. The exception to this is the guys with all the puppies. They string together three or four doped up dogs that sleep all day and they hang a cardboard "We're hungry" sign.

I have a girl who works for me who is sharp as a tack and just finished her masters degree. She makes €1,400 a month take-home. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to live in Paris on €1,400 a month? I guarantee you that there are some homeless people in this town with a better quality of life than her and she busts her ass at work all day.

And before you ask why I don't pay her better, it's because all the ridiculous French social charges make that €1,400 cost me close to $4,000 USD a month.

Eddie... what do you do for a living? I've been trying to decipher it for some time now to no avail.

 

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