Many people in the workforce who've managed to carve out a cushy lifestyle have put in the work to climb their way to the top.
For some, however, money seems to grow with increasing rapidity with ease.
What do they do for a living?
To explore this phenomenon, Redditor business-build asked:
"What does the richest person you know do for a living?"
Detail-oriented work can be lucrative but with its numerous pitfalls leaving no margin for error, it's not for everyone.
The Fine Print
"He owns a piece of code that a multibillion euro company needs to run and licenses it out to them."
– UnoriginalUse
"I work at a global fashion company and for 20 or so years, we relied on an algo that a consultancy firm (3 guys) had developed. In the original contract we signed, the consultancy firm were to 'help us' with the web traffic data since we didn't have a proper IT departement at that time."
"Turns out the wording in the contract sucked, and we had signed over the actual data ownership to these guys, so they actually owned all of our web traffic data."
"They refused all offers we made to buy them out/void the contract and we had to buy back our own data for 20+ years, paying them ridiculous amounts of money every year."
– Due-Listen2632
"I work in data analytics. I get livid when our stupid marketing department wants to partner with the 40th different vendor who promises them the world. All we gotta do is install their base code."
"All that code does is send them copies of our web data. They just hand it over. And then 6-8 months later I do an audit and they say “oh we don’t work with them anymore” yet their f code is still on our site."
– CO_PC_Parts
"Same here. Went to high school with him, he wrote some code (something to do with the efficiency of how graphics are rendered) that he sold to a company that starts with an N and designs GPUs, back in late 90’s."
"I don’t know how much he got, I just know that he retired at 23."
– _TiminyCricket_
Some business owners take risks that do pay off.
Hit That Reset Button
"Owns a company that goes in and strips down stores that have shut down for whatever reason."
"Removes any product left behind, all the display racks, all the equipment, etc. All that's left when his crews are through is the walls, floors, plumbing, and wiring."
"Not only does he get paid to remove all of that, he then gets to auction off the stuff he removed for more money, and sells off any scrap metal as well."
– anon
Starting On A Whim
"Similar vein, but strictly the removal, cataloging, disposing of (if asked/required) and storage of all of the documents and computers of said-closed down businesses."
"The guy started the company on a whim, and became a multi millionaire. Super cool and down to earth dude too."
– Ken-the-pilot
It's Fishy Business
"He owns his own fish monger business. In less than 5 years of opening his business he is now a multi millionaire."
– Redmudgirl
"My BIl is the same way. It's crazy what you can make with a good fish market. He started in the 80s. My husband started his own company (not fishing) and is moving in the same direction."
– dodoexpress90
"Yeah, he started as a chef and worked for a caterer. The fish delivery guy worked shorter hours and made more money. He quit catering and went to work for the fish monger."
"He gained knowledge and serious knife skills and made connections. He convinced his wife that he could make it work and it was his dream to be his own boss. She didn’t want to stand in his way."
"She knew he was a hard worker so they managed to get financing and he opened his own shop. It’s in a multicultural neighbourhood and he gets certain products that he knows will sell. He works 7 days a week and the shop is opened 6 days a week. He makes bank$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"
– Redmudgirl
Atypical Businessman
"Owns a small regional construction company. They do mostly smaller projects in the 300K-3M range but he does a LOT of them and a BUNCH at once. He makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 150K a month. He's also kind of a sh*t businessman and runs his firm like a corn dog stand. I'll never understand his success, frankly."
"He's rich in spite of his best efforts not to be."
"He's a great guy, though. Generous to a fault."
– hkusp45css
Likability Goes A Long Way
"He is succssful because people like him, enjoy his way, and probably his honesty and generosity - they can feel he is a grea guy, and so why NOT support him?"
"I bet he honors his commitmens and doesn’t nickle and dime his clients."
"Its been my experience that many of the successful wealthy ones are NOT greedy the way so many like to portray them - especially here on Reddit."
"Most are grateful for their success and enjoy being able to help others, to give back, and to share what they have with family and friends - not so much like handing out cash but sharing he things they have, or like taking them to big ball games or concerts, or even on vacation, or just always hosting grea aprties at their house, pool, etc."
"I know a few people who are so cheap, and tight, and on top of that…theyactually will grab at anything free, PLUS even more….always looking to get theirs, and then some…and they make comments how they too should have done this or that - what they see others around them have done…and I let them talk but I always feel like, NO, never, they never would be successful because, they’re far too selfish, and far too much always about themselves — who the f'k would ever work for them, put up with that?"
– plytime18
Ideal Scenario
"Richest person I know is the CEO of the company I work for. It’s a very large company , that you all have heard of, I can say I know him and he knows me just on a professional basis. His salary, is public record, is $22M/ year"
– djr41463
Working in real estate is stressful, but the financial rewards can be beneficial.
Rise To The Top
"My ex girlfriend from when i was 16. Her parents came from nothing and are worth about 50 million. All from houses. They bought run down house, moved in and renovated. Sold it 6 months later then rinse and repeat."
"They have 200+ houses and a 3M mansion with pools (plural) horse riding fields, tennis courts. They build a recording studio in one of there outhouses for one of the kids. Crazy money."
– Sm1rfie
Major Investor
"Real estate development. This guy I know buys up commercial properties, renovates them, and leases them out. It sounds straightforward, but the scale he operates is huge, and he always seems to be two steps ahead of the market"
– Liorau
"People can’t really grasp this. In a county of 20-30,000 people it’s very possible that 4-6 families own every commercial property in the entire county, even the run down ones."
– Clikx
These are not typical circumstances.
Jobless
"Nothing. Has never had a job. Inherited a bunch of money at 20 years old. Has never had to work."
– tmckearney
"The richest guy I had dealings with was rich because an ancestor of his dealt industrial quantities of drugs on behalf of the British empire."
– jonnythefoxx
Holy Scandal
"Pastor of a megachurch. The dude has a 10-bedroom home, a dream kitchen both inside/outside the house, a theater, and every other luxury that I could imagine. Has 'guest pastors' to cover up going on expensive vacations every couple of months, etc. He is the sole reason I became disillusioned with the church that I grew up in."
– KillinTheBusiness
Chillin' For A Livin'
"The richest person I know is my BILs cousin. she doesn't really do much .she inherited a sh*t ton of money and land (some with poperties which she air bnbs) when her grandparents passed away. she's works at a call center, just chilling."
– tellmewhatyouwantttt
Rich In Wealth/Poor In Personality
"Nothing. Not a god damned thing. She lives off the interest alone of multi-generations of inherited wealth. She will make more money in an afternoon by renting out a vacation condo in Mexico than most people see in a lifetime."
"Yet, she will invite you out to the most posh restaurant in New York or Chicago and then at the last second, split the tab, leaving you on the hook for $5000, Lee Iacocca style."
– Fahernheit98
Some of the richest people in the world earned their status through hard, honest work while others accumulated wealth via an inheritance.
But the ones who are philanthropic, kind, and respectful of others are worth investing in friendships and relationships.
Are the richest people you know in your life friends or acquaintances?
Keith Pedersen/Facebook
