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Young Tycoons in Endless Pursuit of Next Project

No rest for driven Silicon Valley moguls

By Jane Yager, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 28, 2007 9:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Rather than reveling in his $100 million fortune, mogul Max Levchin spent a year feeling "worthless and stupid" after he sold PayPal to eBay at the age of 27. Too young to retire, too restless to become a philanthropist, Max was like many young Silicon Valley tycoons dogged by their own over-achievement, the New York Times reports.

In the tech world, where the greatest status symbol often isn't wealth but the ability to bring out something new and better, young moguls work relentlessly to stay competitive with each other. Many are angst wracked when their success brings time to ponder the meaning of life. “You ask yourself, ‘Why am I not happier?’” one said.

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Young Tycoons in Endless Pursuit of Next Project

No rest for driven Silicon Valley moguls

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Inside the 'PayPal Mafia'

Company's first generation behind $30 billion of cutting edge companies

A Million Here, a Million There ...

... and before long, some Silicon Valley hotshots are feeling pretty average

Hackers Want PayPal Users to Close Accounts

Anonymous tries a boycott instead of a hack this time

Millionaires Have 39% of the World’s Money

Less than 1% of the world's population controls almost half of the money

PayPal Sues Google, Says It Stole Trade Secrets

Goes after 'Google Wallet' mobile system

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Young Tycoons in Endless Pursuit of Next Project

No rest for driven Silicon Valley moguls

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Silicon Valley • wealth • eBay • tech companies • millionaires • PayPal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Inside the 'PayPal Mafia'

Company's first generation behind $30 billion of cutting edge companies

A Million Here, a Million There ...

... and before long, some Silicon Valley hotshots are feeling pretty average

Hackers Want PayPal Users to Close Accounts

Anonymous tries a boycott instead of a hack this time

Millionaires Have 39% of the World’s Money

Less than 1% of the world's population controls almost half of the money

PayPal Sues Google, Says It Stole Trade Secrets

Goes after 'Google Wallet' mobile system

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