Who does not want to be a son or daughter of a billionaire? It turns out that all of them are not spoilt kids of rich parents. Few of them have uneasy lives too. Read on to find out who they are.
Meet Peter Buffett. He is the youngest of Warren Buffet’s three children. Well, who does not know Warren Buffett, one of the richest persons in the world? Do you know when Peter found out that his father was a wealthy person? Only after he had turned 25. Such was his upbringing, a very normal one. Nothing like that of a rich family flashing their wealth as they show in the movies. Neither Peter nor his siblings got into their father’s business. Instead, they chose to do what they like. It was their father’s advice too. All three of Warren Buffett’s kids got a billion dollars each, not to spend on themselves but to spend on others through philanthropy. Warren Buffet has donated 85% of his wealth to the Gates foundation. Peter Buffet does not mind what his father does with his wealth. He is a musician, and he earns decent money but that is nothing compared to what his legendary father earns. He would have been seen as a successful musician had he not been a son of Warren. The shadow of his father is too dark and his achievements as a musician won't shine bright.
(Reference: Podcast episode ‘Growing Up Buffett’ on Freakonomics Radio)
Steve Jobs was a legend. He made smartphones an indispensable part of our lives. The company he built, Apple, is the largest company in the world in financial terms. More than the accumulation of wealth, Steve Jobs was known for his innovation, marketing skills, and ability to disrupt industry and markets. A very successful person indeed. But how about his personal life? If you happened to read his biography, you would have observed that he was an eccentric person, and not known to have good relationships with people. If you read the book ‘Small Fry’ written by Lisa Brennan-Jobs, you will not only wonder why Steve Jobs had such a complex personality and your respect for him would fade as well (at least it happened to me). Lisa was born to Steve Jobs and his girlfriend Chrisann Brennan. They were separated before Lisa was born. Steve Jobs did not accept Lisa as his daughter and denied his paternity for many years only to accept it and reconcile during the final years of his life. Lisa was brought up by a single parent, her mother, who had to support her by cleaning houses. Lisa in her memoir ‘Small Fry’ has documented the difficulties of her childhood and the complex relationship she had with her father. What use is an apology by a great father on his deathbed? But that is what Lisa had in her fate.
(Reference: 'Small Fry' book by Lisa Jobs)
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| Left: Warren Buffet and Peter Buffett; Right: Lisa with her father Steve Jobs |
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