CEO “allergic” to the super rich, sold company for 1.6 billion USD and then gave away almost all of it

(Dan Tri) - In 2018, after selling a $1.6 billion start-up, Brian O'Kelley and his wife decided to give away more than 90% of their assets. He doesn't believe in billionaires and considers living without looking at prices a tragedy.

In a world of billion-dollar tech deals where founders dream of yachts and mansions, Brian O'Kelley took a different path.

In 2018, his $1.6 billion sale of his startup AppNexus to the giant AT&T caught the attention of the business world. It was a historic boost that propelled this Generation X entrepreneur into the ranks of the super-rich overnight.

But what shocked him was not the value of the deal, but O'Kelley's own decision. He kept less than $100 million, and donated the rest to charitable causes.

The philosophy of "knowing enough" in the age of ostentation

The 48-year-old millionaire, who is building his third startup, Scope3, spoke candidly and exclusively with Fortune about his unique philosophy on life and wealth. “I don’t understand why you need $200 billion, $500 billion, or even $1 billion,” he said. “I don’t believe in billionaires. I think that’s ridiculous.”

After the AppNexus deal closed, while many people were daydreaming about a life of luxury, O'Kelley sat down with his wife to have a "very interesting conversation" about how much money was enough.

“We just figured out what we thought was enough to buy a house and a few other things, and then doubled that, and gave away the rest,” he explains. Though he had a 10% stake in AppNexus, he kept only a fraction of it, less than $100 million, and became one of the most generous philanthropists in tech.

Brian O'Kelley said he capped his family's fortune at $100 million and said billionaires were wasteful, aloof and "disconnected" from real life (Photo: Getty).

For O'Kelley, refusing to join the billionaire club isn't a flashy act. It's a commitment he lives by: "Even if Scope3 is wildly successful, we're going to give that money away."

For Brian O'Kelley, limiting his assets isn't just an act of generosity. It's a way to keep himself and his family from spiraling out of control.

“We never wanted to have so much money that we didn’t have to make choices,” he explains. “The joy is in appreciating what we have and having to make tough decisions. We still have to talk about budgeting like any other family. That’s life.”

This philosophy also stems from a father's concern and desire to prevent his children from becoming spoiled. Although O'Kelley, who is nearly 6 feet tall, often flies business class for comfort, he always feels "guilty" and worries that his children will get used to such a lavish lifestyle.

“I used to fly all over the world in economy class. I want my children to experience some of the hardships I had, so they understand the value of things,” he said.

A warning to the "billionaire club"

As the world sees a billionaire boom, with a record 3,028 of them, O'Kelley isn't shy about criticizing their ostentatious lifestyles, calling the yachts, helicopters and private islands "a ridiculous waste of money when so many people have nothing."

“I wish more people would ask themselves, ‘Why would I want to live like Jeff Bezos?’” O’Kelley said. “You can’t have a yacht, a helicopter, a private island, a building named after you, and all that stuff, because that’s too much. No one can really appreciate all that.”

He argues that extreme wealth makes people “isolated,” losing the boundaries and consequences that define normal life. “The biggest risk is: how can we be responsible when we have so much money to buy anything?”

When asked if he wishes he had more money to invest in new companies without turning to venture capital, he frankly admitted that he sometimes thought so. "But you know, it's a responsibility." O'Kelley believes that having to convince others to invest in his ideas is a necessary test, keeping him sane and accountable.

Brian O'Kelley is a living example that success is not necessarily measured by the amount of wealth accumulated. He has proven that an entrepreneur can reach the pinnacle of his career while still remaining humble, responsible, and connected to real life.

In a world that is racing to have more, have more, O'Kelley's philosophy is a powerful reminder: true happiness lies in making meaningful choices and living a responsible life.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/ceo-di-ung-voi-gioi-sieu-giau-ban-cong-ty-16-ty-usd-roi-cho-di-gan-het-20250815221212471.htm