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Congratulations on the investment. The return is nothing short of spectacular. It's a truly excellent example of execution <i>and timing</i>.<p>But the point that keeps resurfacing in my mind is SpaceX. SpaceX, from nothing, created a low-earth orbit delivery system that is revolutionizing satellite launches and (soon) the cost of getting men into space... for less than the price that a bunch of people can send photos to each other with cheesy filters [1].<p>It would be difficult to overstate the impact Elon Musk has had, is having and will have on <i>humanity</i> (and no this isn't hyperbole) through SpaceX (and maybe even Tesla). And it didn't even require, relate to or is connected with some bullshit social network.<p>I'm also reminded of Steve Yegge's OSCON talk [2] from some months back. The computer power we have available now is stunning. used for the right purposes it could fundamentally change humanity for the good, whether that be in bioinformatics or whatever, is hard to overstate.<p>Yet we're using all this power and the brightest minds on the planet... to send cat pictures. It's actually reached the point that when I get unsolicited recruitment email or read about some new startup on HN that I tune out as soon as I see the word "social".<p>There's something astoundingly depressing about all this.<p>EDIt: I should add that my issue isn't that the founders and investors sought wealth. I don't begrudge them that at all. Not by any means am I anti-capitalist. Bill Gates, as one example, is doing huge amounts of good with his accrued wealth.<p>The issue is more on what society values.<p>[1]: <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3857904" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3857904</a><p>[2]: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKmQW_Nkfk8" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKmQW_Nkfk8</a>