Mean People Fail
Perhaps pg and I have a different understanding of the word mean, but I doubt it as the opposing word he uses to describe the founders  is "good people". These are just the ones coming to my head:<p>Apple, Steve Jobs, widely known for being an asshole. Fucked over early employees.<p>Facebook, Zuck, completely fucked over his mates when money appeared.<p>Microsoft, Bill Gates, ruthlessly exterminated opposition and known for bullying staff.<p>Oracle, Larry Ellison<p>Zynga, Marcus Pincus, "I Did Every Horrible Thing In The Book Just To Get Revenues".<p>Uber, acting like complete dicks.<p>Kim Dotcom, nuff said.<p>I think once you've been mean/ruthless/evil in business you may come out the other side and do some nice things, but you have to ask, will it ever be enough? Will Bill Gates ever make up for the billions of damage he caused humanity by using underhand tactics to destroy his opposition? Maybe. But while everyone praises him at the moment, I can't help but think he deliberately held the internet back for 6 or 7 years for his own profit. You almost can't start calculating the damage he caused precisely because it is so mind boggling.<p>Perhaps you don't agree with me, but imho this is the most bizarre essay I've read by pg, and I really don't agree with most of his political leanings, so for me that's saying a lot.<p>The truly great startup founders have to be nice on the outside but when push comes to shove, complete assholes on the inside. And of course investors are going to see the nice side.<p>Edit: And it occurs to me, funnily enough pg seems to be one of the major counterexamples, a good founder, as when he setup YC it was a game changer because here was a rich dude taking time out to help a bunch of young people and then put his money where his mouth was when people started asking him "so where do we get this seed funding". It was so remarkable because he actually took the time.<p>Edit 2: There seems to be some debate on the meaning of "mean". I'd point to pg's own essay on philosophy to dismiss this sophistry. He uses "good" and "benevolent" as the opposites, not "polite" or "diplomatic". I also appreciate BG created trillions of value, so he's definitely an overall net +ve, but he destroyed as well as created.