The article discusses the evolving landscape of tech billionaires from the 1990s, focusing on the shift from philanthropic figures like Bill Gates to a new era dominated by more self-serving libertarians. As tech began to grow, early billionaires were often seen as philanthropists committed to societal betterment. However, the narrative has changed, especially post-2010s with figures like Jeff Bezos, who exemplify a new breed of wealthy individuals often uninterested in public service, prioritizing personal freedoms over societal responsibilities, leading to the current climate where self-interest prevails in tech and politics.
These men have largely rejected any obligation to public service, choosing to hoard their wealth or spend it on vanity projects rather than use it to aid the far less fortunate.
By the time Amazon founder Jeff Bezos surpassed Gates as the world's richest man in the 2010s, the tech billionaire vibes had shifted.
A new kind of billionaire: The nerd made good, who generally came along with a kind of bland good-guy libertarianism.
When they get into positions of power, their libertarianism morphs from 'Freedom for All' to 'Freedom for Me'-including freedom from criticism or complicity.
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