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Do founders get the 'fame' ? Sure, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Sometimes it makes you a target. I was amazed at how much Eric Schmidt paid for personal
by thecage411 12y ago
Do founders get the 'fame' ? Sure, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Sometimes it makes you a target. I was amazed at how much Eric Schmidt paid for personal security (its in the 10Q) he can afford it of course but really? You have to hire ex-special forces types because you're too tempting a kidnapping target? I personally would much rather be anonymously wealthy than 'target on your back' wealthy.
Eric Schmidt almost surely doesn't _need_ ex special forces guys doing his security. He does it because it makes him feel/look important, or he's paranoid, or he may as well because he has the money and the company may pay for it anyway.
There are plenty of super-rich super-famous people in SV who don't have large security entourages and get by just fine.
- toomuchtodo 12y agoWarren Buffet is worth ~6 times more than Eric Schmidt; I don't see him any sort of security escort near what Eric Schmidt has. The line between need and want can be blurry.
- Stratoscope 12y agoSteve Jobs was a good example of what you're talking about. Ask people around Palo Alto and they will tell you stories about running into him in town. Like the time I was sitting out on the patio at La Strada, within arm's reach of the University Avenue sidewalk, and I looked over at the next table and there were Steve and his daughter having a quiet dinner just like anyone else. And no security forces in sight. And then there is Chuck Geschke, who was kidnapped from the Adobe parking lot, blindfolded and held hostage for days in real fear of not only his own life but his family's: http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-briefs/20556-J18583 http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-br... http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-briefs/20555-J18584 http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-br... http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-briefs/19811-J18582 http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-br... http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-briefs/20557-J18585 http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/215-news-br... (Four part series in the Los Altos Town Crier)
- ScottBurson 12y agoWow, I never knew about that. Gripping story.
- bryanh 12y ago> He does it because it makes him feel/look important, or he's paranoid, or he may as well because he has the money and the company may pay for it anyway. Unless you have internal knowledge, for all we know he and his family had dozens of anonymous threats due to his role and the company insisted they provide security. Or not. Who knows?