That’s Rich

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Google has a particularly charming tradition of altering its logo to commemorate something related to a particular day. It’s called a Google Doodle. They’re cute, kitschy and occasionally interactive, like the time the Pac-Man game turned thirty and they turned the logo into a mini interactive game for just one day. For the most part, the Google Doodle honors people who’ve made a positive impact on society. Recently, they made one for George Peabody, investment banker, benefactor, and the guy the Peabody Awards are named for.

Like the Pulitzer, a Peabody Award is a prestigious honor given to those who excel in the field of journalism and other traditional forms of mass media. I knew of the Peabody Awards, but had never dug deep enough to learn about the guy it was named for. It turns out old George was the original billionaire philanthropist. He gave over half of his money away, education being his favourite cause, but was still so thrifty, he still took the bus and his only indulgence was an apple a day. He also turned down a baronetcy offered by Queen Victoria, which tells us he had brass balls the size of Texas.

In my cursory research of interesting factoids related to George Peabody, I came across a list of billionaires who still do real things. If anything, I’ve always thought the family behind Wal-Mart are a bunch of awful people, but knowing one of them drives a fifteen year old rustbucket was a nice surprise.

Granted, the one percent aren’t always angels sent from above. They are first and foremost all about business, which is a cold mother, especially when it comes to profit. For all we know, George Peabody was closer to a crabby, tightfisted miser than Santa Claus. Even so, his kind of realness is the kind that I respect. At the end of the day, money is for spending and all the accoutrements are great, but I’ve always been at home with the idea that you don’t have to have something, you just have to know you can get it if you want to.

It’s always been about the knowing. I want to know I can stay out until four in the morning and get wasted, but I don’t really need to go out and do it. I don’t need to own a Ferrari, have my own island, have my own private jet and swan around my mega-mansion with all my swag, it would just be cool to know I can if I want to.

Gun to my head, if I were worth billions I would definitely have bigger indulgences than George Peabody’s measly apple a day (seriously man, live a little), but I want to believe I wouldn’t be what Migos calls “bad and boujee.” I want to think I would be like Bill Gates, who has more money than the GDP of certain developing countries, and yet, still rocks a $10 Casio on his wrist. Or Warren Buffett, who still lives in the house he bought in 1958, years before he made his fortune.

I like successful people who haven’t let their money change who they are. No need to show it, just have to know it. There’s freedom in that.

_______________________

Author’s Twitter: @nikkajow

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