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Maintaining these projects ain't cheap even for billionaires (by that I don't mean it would make them broke (or even close), but spending hundreds of thousands

Maintaining these projects ain't cheap even for billionaires (by that I don't mean it would make them broke (or even close), but spending hundreds of thousands or even millions for something you have no interest is gonna sound expensive). They need to be financially self-sufficient to even have a chance, IMHO. Even then it isn't a given. Just like people sometimes clean their houses even when they still have tons of space.

AdamN 4y ago
Seattle could afford that easy cheesy. Really this is down to the lack of a strong CEO (probably because of the way this was incubated inside of Vulcan). A strong CEO could probably throw enough benefits and special events to run a 2-3MM operation and possibly get a proper endowment from some of the very wealthy people who live within the Puget Sound region. Oh, and that money would be tax deductible and you would get invited to some great networking events. That CEO could also pay themselves $250k without blowback either.
- thrdbndndn 4y ago
  Yeah it definitely can be operated that way. Unfortunately it wasn't set up like that when Paul was alive (more like a personal collection). And after his death, the chance it became like that is even slimmer.
ndespres 4y ago
Allen had a net worth of something like $20 billion. That’s enough money to fund the museum for the next 5,000 years. Maintaining a project like this is NOT expensive.
- thrdbndndn 4y ago
  It's not about how much money he (or his widow) has, it's about no one likes to randomly pour money into something they have zero interest in, and we're talking about money perhaps in millions per year. And the administrative headache.
  - lrvick 4y ago
    Two hires of retro computing enthusiasts and a modest parts budget could keep it running. Maybe 400k/year.
    - RegnisGnaw 4y ago
      Rent? Utilities? Insurance?
      - Reason077 4y ago
        Seems like the bills are still being paid, though. The museum is still physically there, and someone (Vulcan) is keeping the vintage computers maintained and operational. Try: ssh menu@tty.livingcomputers.org
        Damogran6 4y ago
        Dude this just made my Friday!
      - mixmastamyk 4y ago
        Implement ticket sales, events, fundraising? Get a donation from Gates? Buy the land or move somewhere cheaper. Invest in some solar panels and skylights?
  - crazygringo 4y ago
    Exactly. Money isn't enough to keep things running in perpetuity or even for a long time -- ultimately everything has to be administered by an organization that has a self-interest in sustaining itself with a board etc. If money is simply set aside to fund something, somebody still has to hire somebody to manage the thing, and oversee their performance, and fire the manager if they underperform, and find a new manager, and sign off on big decisions like a change of space, and so forth. But if that trustee just... doesn't care to do that... then what exactly are you going to do? Somebody would have to sue to enforce that overseeing, but frequently nobody cares to sue or has standing.

AdamN 4y ago

Seattle could afford that easy cheesy. Really this is down to the lack of a strong CEO (probably because of the way this was incubated inside of Vulcan). A strong CEO could probably throw enough benefits and special events to run a 2-3MM operation and possibly get a proper endowment from some of the very wealthy people who live within the Puget Sound region. Oh, and that money would be tax deductible and you would get invited to some great networking events. That CEO could also pay themselves $250k without blowback either.

thrdbndndn 4y ago
Yeah it definitely can be operated that way. Unfortunately it wasn't set up like that when Paul was alive (more like a personal collection). And after his death, the chance it became like that is even slimmer.

ndespres 4y ago

Allen had a net worth of something like $20 billion. That’s enough money to fund the museum for the next 5,000 years. Maintaining a project like this is NOT expensive.

thrdbndndn 4y ago
It's not about how much money he (or his widow) has, it's about no one likes to randomly pour money into something they have zero interest in, and we're talking about money perhaps in millions per year. And the administrative headache.
- lrvick 4y ago
  Two hires of retro computing enthusiasts and a modest parts budget could keep it running. Maybe 400k/year.
  - RegnisGnaw 4y ago
    Rent? Utilities? Insurance?
    - Reason077 4y ago
      Seems like the bills are still being paid, though. The museum is still physically there, and someone (Vulcan) is keeping the vintage computers maintained and operational. Try: ssh menu@tty.livingcomputers.org
      - Damogran6 4y ago
        Dude this just made my Friday!
    - mixmastamyk 4y ago
      Implement ticket sales, events, fundraising? Get a donation from Gates? Buy the land or move somewhere cheaper. Invest in some solar panels and skylights?
- crazygringo 4y ago
  Exactly. Money isn't enough to keep things running in perpetuity or even for a long time -- ultimately everything has to be administered by an organization that has a self-interest in sustaining itself with a board etc. If money is simply set aside to fund something, somebody still has to hire somebody to manage the thing, and oversee their performance, and fire the manager if they underperform, and find a new manager, and sign off on big decisions like a change of space, and so forth. But if that trustee just... doesn't care to do that... then what exactly are you going to do? Somebody would have to sue to enforce that overseeing, but frequently nobody cares to sue or has standing.