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Comment by stephencanon | Hacker News Reader

Losing half your wealth should have approximately zero effect. Any computer scientist will tell you that "a factor of two is close enough".

I'm joking, but there's a hint of truth here. I can't imagine any level of wealth at which suddenly having half (or twice) as much would make any difference to me at all. A factor of two either way really wouldn't change my life appreciably.

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I can't imagine any level of wealth at which suddenly having half (or twice) as much would make any difference to me at all.

You sure about that? I think $40k down to $20k could be a pretty jarring transition, especially if you have established expenses like dependents or a mortgage.

The ability to pay expenses is a function of cash flow, not wealth.

Money is, perhaps, replaceable, but losing the family farm that has been in the family for seven generations would be a sad day though. I've seen it happen before.

Wouldn't he lose the 50+% majority of voting shares?

If I worked for years on my business, married a woman, and then she cheated on me and now gets half due to the divorce. It wouldn't really be the money that bothers me. It would be that that this despicable person gets half of my stuff.

If you don't think that this will happen, it does. In the US court systems, the woman pretty much has all of the power. If she cheats on you and has a baby with another guy, you most likely will end up paying child support.

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