Gen Xer sold his company for $1.6 billion. He kept less than $100 million and gave the rest away because he doesn't 'believe in billionaires'

Brian O’Kelley, a Gen X CEO who sold his ad-tech startup AppNexus to AT&T for $1.6 billion in 2018, said he kept less than $100 million and donated the remainder to charity. He characterized billionaires with “yachts” and multiple mansions as “obnoxious,” and said capping his wealth keeps him focused on day-to-day decisions. O’Kelley said he calculated an amount he and his wife considered “enough” for a house and related needs, then doubled it, before giving away the rest. Now building his third startup, Scope3, he reiterated that he would never join a “billionaires club,” even if it succeeded. The article also links his views to a desire to avoid spoiling his children, describing discomfort with luxury as a potential influence. It notes an overall context of a growing billionaire population, citing 3,302 record count mentioned in the piece.