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My favorite PR stories will always be the "self-made millionaire" who managed to get himself a multi-million dollar startup valuation via his personal investmen

My favorite PR stories will always be the "self-made millionaire" who managed to get himself a multi-million dollar startup valuation via his personal investment from his trust fund and another investment from his father's hedge fund.

lefstathiou 4y ago
I can’t think of any company that fits that profile that I’ve come across PR from. Mind sharing a few names?
- gnicholas 4y ago
  I won't name names, but I know of a founder who raised tens of millions without a whisper of a product, any technical chops, or even an impressive resume. His dad was very well-connected in SV, though. I've followed the son's career, and it seems that he has squandered tens of millions of dollars over the course of a decade. Glassdoor reviews are not kind to his company, or him specifically. Apparently he lies to employees and recruits about milestones and such. I have wondered if his gravy train will ever run out of steam. So far, it hasn't — he lives in a multimillion dollar house and drives fancy cars. Oh, and his startup was covered in TechCrunch, of course!
  - HWR_14 4y ago
    Depending on who his dad is, losing tens of millions over a decade on the son could be worth it. A lot of bribery works by giving money to family members. The gravy train might only end when his dad is no longer in a position to repay people with favors.
- MisterBastahrd 4y ago
  Not the one I'm thinking of, but Kylie Jenner is referred to as a self-made millionaire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesdigitalcovers/2018/07/11/how-20-year-old-kylie-jenner-built-a-900-million-fortune-in-less-than-3-years/?sh=408400c7aa62 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesdigitalcovers/2018/07/11/... For reference, she had a 9 figure trust fund when her father passed away.
  - TenJack 4y ago
    Kylie Jenner's father is still alive (Caitlyn Jenner). But yea, not self-made.
nylonstrung 4y ago
Do you have any actual examples of this?
yamtaddle 4y ago
The SV version of getting your kid a "VP" job at a golfing buddy's firm, straight out of graduating from their 2rd-tier rich-people private university, I suppose.
- gpt5 4y ago
  I wasn't sure what universities fall under the "2rd-tier rich-people private university" category, so I asked ChatGPT > According to recent reports, several second-tier private universities have gained a reputation as being "rich people universities." These schools include New York University, Boston College, and the University of Southern California, among others. These institutions are known for their high tuition costs and their large endowments, which are often funded by wealthy donors. While they may not be as prestigious as Ivy League schools, they are still considered to be among the top tier of private universities in the United States

lefstathiou 4y ago

I can’t think of any company that fits that profile that I’ve come across PR from. Mind sharing a few names?

gnicholas 4y ago
I won't name names, but I know of a founder who raised tens of millions without a whisper of a product, any technical chops, or even an impressive resume. His dad was very well-connected in SV, though. I've followed the son's career, and it seems that he has squandered tens of millions of dollars over the course of a decade. Glassdoor reviews are not kind to his company, or him specifically. Apparently he lies to employees and recruits about milestones and such. I have wondered if his gravy train will ever run out of steam. So far, it hasn't — he lives in a multimillion dollar house and drives fancy cars. Oh, and his startup was covered in TechCrunch, of course!
- HWR_14 4y ago
  Depending on who his dad is, losing tens of millions over a decade on the son could be worth it. A lot of bribery works by giving money to family members. The gravy train might only end when his dad is no longer in a position to repay people with favors.
MisterBastahrd 4y ago
Not the one I'm thinking of, but Kylie Jenner is referred to as a self-made millionaire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesdigitalcovers/2018/07/11/how-20-year-old-kylie-jenner-built-a-900-million-fortune-in-less-than-3-years/?sh=408400c7aa62 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesdigitalcovers/2018/07/11/... For reference, she had a 9 figure trust fund when her father passed away.
- TenJack 4y ago
  Kylie Jenner's father is still alive (Caitlyn Jenner). But yea, not self-made.

nylonstrung 4y ago

Do you have any actual examples of this?

yamtaddle 4y ago

The SV version of getting your kid a "VP" job at a golfing buddy's firm, straight out of graduating from their 2rd-tier rich-people private university, I suppose.

gpt5 4y ago
I wasn't sure what universities fall under the "2rd-tier rich-people private university" category, so I asked ChatGPT > According to recent reports, several second-tier private universities have gained a reputation as being "rich people universities." These schools include New York University, Boston College, and the University of Southern California, among others. These institutions are known for their high tuition costs and their large endowments, which are often funded by wealthy donors. While they may not be as prestigious as Ivy League schools, they are still considered to be among the top tier of private universities in the United States