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In 2018, Sylvia founded Mira - a women's hormonal health company in the United States. During the Covid-19 pandemic, her business experienced remarkable growth. At 37, Sylvia became a millionaire. Now at 40, she has achieved billionaire status.
Despite her enormous wealth, Sylvia maintains a modest lifestyle, living in a three-bedroom apartment in a middle-class complex with her husband and son. She drives a Tesla Model 3 not for show, but for its practical autopilot feature.
Though living simply and privately, Sylvia's wealth and business success have significantly impacted her friendships. She used to have close friends with whom she could share everything. Now, she finds it difficult to trust anyone enough to open up. As her success grew, Sylvia noticed her friends treating her differently. While they showed more respect, they also kept their distance. Spontaneous meetups and casual dining became rare. Instead, gatherings became carefully planned affairs, with friends insisting on upscale restaurants, worried about appearing inadequate in Sylvia's eyes.
"What used to be fun and intimate has become cautious and formal," Sylvia reflects.
The 40-year-old billionaire acknowledges her part in the friendship drift, admitting she became too focused on work. Previously, their casual conversations revolved around promotions, salary raises, or complaints about family life. Now, Sylvia's concerns center on personnel management and company growth strategies - quite different from her employed friends' daily experiences. Some friends show curiosity about Sylvia's life, but she hesitates to share, finding it challenging to explain the complexities of her business world.
Sylvia has discussed this loss of connection with her therapist.
"No single person can fulfill all your needs. There won't be one perfect friend who understands every aspect of your life," the therapist advised.
Though she lacks close friendships now, Sylvia has found new social circles. She joined various groups, including a hiking club and meditation community. When she needs to discuss business matters, she turns to mentors and colleagues - people who understand her challenges because they share similar paths.
As her wealth grew, the businesswoman became less interested in luxury spending. She used to believe that designer handbags and expensive cars were necessary to establish her status. Being an Asian immigrant in America, Sylvia felt pressured to maintain a certain image to attract investors. However, her perspective has shifted significantly with success.
Now successful, Sylvia says she no longer needs to prove herself to anyone. Instead of spending on luxury brands, she focuses on experiences that bring joy to her spirit, like visiting historical sites in Greece and Italy. She has also gone hiking in Patagonia and is planning a trip to New Zealand.
Despite becoming a billionaire at 40, Sylvia chose not to retire early. The entrepreneur believes that work improves her health and adds meaning to her life.
"When you realize this truth, financial freedom isn't as appealing as we once thought," Sylvia reflects.
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Source: vnexpress / 6-Feb-2025 / https://vnexpress.net/khong-con-ban-be-khi-tro-thanh-ty-phu-4846433.html
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