How to live off the grid, on the run - help me

ok, i have $10mm, and i'm on the run from the US govt. They're not looking very hard, but they are looking. I'd call myself a suspect of opportunity. Got to avoid law enforcement...can't leave a paper trail. I have a little time..probably a few months to prepare.

the 10mm is 1/3 in cash USD 1/3 gold coins 1/3 BTC and other crypto

Where do i go? How do i live?

i need to rent an apartment - can only pay cash i need utilities - can only pay cash (electricity, internet, cell phone) buy a car? cash (also, i can't register the car in my name, because, the govt is looking for me)

What about insurance (renters insurance, auto insurance)? What about flying in the future? I'll need to get new ID/Passport...how does that happen when i can't use my real name?

What about healthcare? I need a new name/identity to stay in the US...or just goto a country with free public healthcare?

What is my action plan?

11 Comments
 
Funniest
"ironnchef" ok, i have $10mm, and i'm on the run from the US govt. They're not looking very hard, but they are looking. I'd call myself a suspect of opportunity. Got to avoid law enforcement...can't leave a paper trail. I have a little time..probably a few months to prepare.

the 10mm is 1/3 in cash USD 1/3 gold coins 1/3 BTC and other crypto

Where do i go? How do i live?

i need to rent an apartment - can only pay cash i need utilities - can only pay cash (electricity, internet, cell phone) buy a car? cash (also, i can't register the car in my name, because, the govt is looking for me)

What about insurance (renters insurance, auto insurance)? What about flying in the future? I'll need to get new ID/Passport...how does that happen when i can't use my real name?

What about healthcare? I need a new name/identity to stay in the US...or just goto a country with free public healthcare?

What is my action plan?

![https://media0.giphy.com/media/cQhWrl1CrGD04/source.gif][https://media0…]

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Put it all into zkDAI, get a couple decent fake passports, and then just live in one of the posh digital nomad spots in Saigon or Hanoi. Feasible.

VN has a lot of hip foreigner communities, great expat amenities, low cost of living, and no US extradition.

When you travel, store your funds by memorizing your passphrase, then put it on a Ledger/Trezor when you arrive and store it in a safe. Don't use BTC because they will find you easily. There will be enough crypto cash-out options that you can find boutique OTC desks to tranche your zkDAI position into cash when needed. zkDAI -> Uniswap -> USDC -> OTC -> VND should work with pretty minimal slippage so long as you don't transact in huge tranches at a time.

Make sure to use a fake name and either have a few local cops on your payroll or make friends with very well-connected local elite. Stay out of public media.

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 
Most Helpful

first, you'll need to create a consultancy to clean up that money. maybe some construction projects in LatAm/SE Asia with family members as directors/officers. then create a bunch of subcontracting businesses to funnel the payments through (of course you or one of your agents will be authorized signers on the accounts). pay LLCs that you control for consultancy services, and hope the dollar amounts are small enough that AML triggers don't happen. do not, I repeat, do not use ANY US dollars for these transfers. swiss francs, GBP. don't use US chartered banks, but the attorney will be able to assist you with that. plenty of sketchballs in Miami are willing to take a cash retainer in exchange for discretion.

second, alter your appearance. the easiest way to do this is to drastically change your weight. if you have short hair and no beard, get ready to grow everything out (but keep it nice looking, don't look homeless, go for frank zappa not tom hanks from whatever volleyball movie that was). any attorney willing to help with step 1 will also be willing to help you with new citizenship with a new name. also, start learning a new language, I'd recommend French or Arabic.

third, disappear. delete all social media, get VPNs, satellite burner phones, stuff like that. bring only bare necessities, maybe a backpack but no more. go to a country without extradition laws and lay low for a year or more. if it were me, I'd pick Vietnam, Indonesia, Senegal, Algeria, or Gabon. relatively high standards of living compared to other countries without extradition laws to the US (meaning if they find you there, your new home doesn't have to extradite you).

finally, give your family closure. maybe write someone a letter from a random airport somewhere inconspicuous (I'd recommend an airport you've never flown through just to throw them off), tell them you had a mental breakdown and need time to sort things out, you'll be in touch when the time is right.

I know this is likely a troll, but for anyone looking to do this, don't tell 'em who sent you

 

Don't bother, mate. Special Forces will come visit you anyway. Surrender yourself to the federal authorities.

 

Eaque et aliquam eum. Vel earum nisi sit. Non esse exercitationem sint quae.

Sit consequatur nemo et non repudiandae laudantium fuga. Perspiciatis iure eum praesentium cum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”