An Inclusive Litany

3/13/00

From an NBC News report:

Tom Brokaw, anchor:
It is no secret, of course, that this economy has generated enormous new wealth in America, sudden wealth that changes lives dramatically. But having it all can generate some unexpected problems that send many of the newly rich running for a therapist.

Jim Avila, reporting:
It's an unusual virus with unusual symptoms. The hot zone: California's Silicon Valley, where experts say 60 new millionaires are created every day. Symptoms: too much money, too much loneliness. After treating many patients, psychologists have a name for it: sudden wealth syndrome and a center to study it.

Joan DiFuria, of the Money, Meaning and Choices Institute, which facilitates charitable contributions:
An array of symptoms may be that they're embarrassed, guilty, ashamed, sometimes in denial with their money.

Avila:
A sense of isolation, imbalance, brought on by sudden riches and nothing meaningful to do.

David Seuss:
I remember thinking, "Gee, I wish I could have a meeting now, but there's no one at home to have a meeting with."

Avila:
CEO David Seuss says he suffered through it, making millions at his computer software company in the '80s, selling [the company], and swearing never to be the boss again. Too much pressure. But ten years later he's back, running Northern Light, an Internet search engine, unable to join the idle rich.

Seuss:
It's not being a leader was the thing that I missed the most.