Becoming a millionaire at 25 didn't make me happy. Now, I invest in the health and happiness of my employees and myself.
Brandon Card, a former Big Tech employee who became a millionaire at 25, shares his realization that material wealth did not equate to happiness. He now focuses his resources on investing in startups and prioritizing personal well-being over luxury consumption.
Why it matters
This personal narrative highlights shifting values among high-net-worth individuals regarding the role of money in achieving long-term fulfillment.
Courtesy of Brandon Card Brandon Card worked at Big Tech companies and used his salary to invest in high-risk startups. Through those investments, he became a millionaire at 25. Now 38, he uses his net worth to prioritize mental and physical health. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brandon Card , founder and CEO of Terzo . It has been edited for length and clarity. In my 20s, I looked like a corporate guy through and through. I worked for Big Tech — Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM — and was on track to become a young executive. I could have had a great life in those positions, but I wanted something more. Although I was working in corporate roles , I spent all my free time connecting with entrepreneurs. I wanted to start my own venture.
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