> Rodi Guidero, managing director for strategic investments at Gates Ventures (who now oversees Breakthrough Energy Ventures), Guidero blurted, “That’s a terrible f—ing idea.” He argued the fund would lose money and embarrass Gates. “Why do you think I care about that?” Gates replied. (In retelling the story, Guidero now says, “I can’t believe I said a thing like that to Bill Gates.” Gates says he doesn’t remember the exchange.)

You have to love apocryphal tales like this. The idea that Gates would hire someone who didn't know that Gates wouldn't care about this (in this situation) when they work so close is just so funny. It's almost a story planted on purpose a 'went against all odds people told him he was crazy'. Note that I remember other stories about how Gates liked people to stand up to him and not be yes man.

> “In another 20 years, you’re not going to be wondering if you got a return,” says Larry Cohen. “You’re wondering if there’s going to be a planet left for your great-grandchildren.”

I wish they'd stop with that type of over the top hyperbole. Most people not in the top slice of the 1% (meaning not the 1 percent but the top slice of that) are just getting by day to day with daily issues. I don't think many of them are really thinking about children of children that haven't been born yet. A good test to see if you are comfortable well off and lucky might even be to see if you actually think about those thinks along with 'your legacy'.