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September 10, 2007

Silicon Valley is Home to the Working Class Millionaire

Valley

So you think you’re rich? Try living to Silicon Valley where earning $2-3 million a year makes you feel “average.”

“I know people looking in from the outside will ask why someone like me keeps working so hard,” Mr. Steger a self-described geek, who has banked more than $2 million says. “But a few million doesn’t go as far as it used to. Maybe in the ’70s, a few million bucks meant ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,’ or Richie Rich living in a big house with a butler. But not anymore.”

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  • lilkitty

    People should just be happy with what they have and quit trying to chase the Joneses. There will always be someone who makes more than you do… unless you’re Bill Gates of course. :)

  • http://www.tropicaan.com mattsfolio

    Hey if he’s not happy, I’ll take his job and earnings ;)

  • yume

    It’s hard to not compare when you live in a place like that where the neighbor next door makes ten times the amount you do.

    I do like how they understand that luck played a huge role in landing their millions. Many rich people won’t own up to that fact, and claim it was just all work and sweat.

  • AllaN

    Earning more than 2 million, its only “average”. Well its justified to say that he earnings are “average” when everyone around him is just making as much or perhaps more.

    I must be doing something wrong, making 2 million is anything but AVERAGE. Maybe if Mr.Steger moved out of Silicon Valley , perhaps he’d feel better, cause he can compare himself to other people! And if he still isn’t happy, he can always go to the Casino and make 10 times as much or lose everything ;)

  • beni

    I guess once you are at that level, it is average, and i guess it the human condition, that you are never content on what you have now, and will always be striving for the “more” which we never seem to reach. Greed is so deadly.

  • http://www.kineda.com Tami Ng

    Im doing something wrong :(

  • http://www.erapo.szm.sk Lenka

    at first you have a dream. then you reach the dream. then you have new dreams and want more, more, more, more…. its just human mentality.

  • http://www.xanga.com/lawrencel715 lawrencel715

    no one can ever earn “enough”, just like no one can ever have enough. life is meant to have goals, then create more after achieving them. it’s good in a way, but you can’t bank all your happiness on that. 2-3 million is “average” if those in your neighborhood are earning that much, it just depends on where that average is.

    but i agree that 2-3 mil isn’t “much” in today’s standards. being a millionaire doesn’t mean that you’re set for life anymore, unless you settle and don’t do much. still, i rather live a life of happiness with a healthy family earning 60k a year than having millions while working all day and week.

  • Dexter Kanuto

    the real human mentality is possessiveness
    we want to possess more than just acquire
    what i meant was that we want more than just want more
    we want it all!

    well that’s d bad side of it n money can also kill u

  • s312p3nt

    how they make money is by taking risks. You have to be a businessman, investor, or anything involving capitol money. Being a doctor is prestige but then u give up on being a millionaire cus u lose tons to the federal government. Learning how to handle money and then converting that knowledge to a career is the thing to do. The poor are supplied with welfare. the rich have enough to support themselves(which is why he making 2-3mil isnt that much cus in any sec u can lose it all. huge gain or loss is wat he s dealing wit.) then comes the middle class. upper mid and lower middle included. The government makes it hard to get above upper mid cus the rich makes up the government duh! so then its extremely hard to become wealthy.

  • http://members.asiantown.net/BEAUTYY BEAUTYY

    Considering his surroundings, with people bringing in $5-10 milliom more than he does, this fact makes him feel average. I’m glad he does because with that he doesn’t feel or act rich, he owns an average house and cars and his children value their father’s hard work and commitment. That type of modesty is such a healthy trait when it comes to wealth.

  • Dexter Kanuto

    does d man in d pic looks as if he’s content ENOUGH???

  • http://www.the-preferred-guest.com the-preferred-guest

    OK.
    Now, when all things involving money are solved it is time for someone to solve the inner self.
    2-3 millions per year are not bad. Perhaps someone cannot live as he would like with this income, for example, in Japan.
    Yet, in Greece and other Med countries 2-3 millions are a very well income to go by.

  • vgachi57

    Someone once told me “A person who has problems with money will always have problems with money.” And over the years and people I’ve met, it’s pretty true. No matter how much someone makes, it’ll never be enough for some people because they will find ways to squander it or create some standard that they need to surpass (like nearby perceived competition).

  • TeaAndWhimsy

    Although I don’t quite believe in the saying “Money can’t buy happiness” I think money certainly does have its place in determining what type of happiness it brings you.

    The wealthy business people in Silicon Valley have one major thing in common – driven personalities that allow them to continue working as hard as they do despite not “needing” the money! The rest of us “slackers” call it OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder! I say it tongue-in-cheek but really they’re overachievers because they can’t help themselves and it’s what makes them them!

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