On Tuesday, 16 th September 2014, popular
Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji posted on her
blog her latest luxury toy; a brand new 2014
Range Rover Sport Supercharged. According to
her, this cost a whopping sum of N24m [$
153,000]!
This is not her first car by the way, this is her
3 rd car following a 2011 Infiniti FX 35 [N8m]
and a 2008 Toyota Camry. Conservatively, her
3 cars cost N36m [$228,000], not bad for a
blogger right?
The Value of Money
Anyone is free to spend their money however
they want.
But stop to think about this, would Linda Ikeji
be able to buy these cars if Larry Page and
Sergey Brin hadn’t invented Google the
company that created the free blogging
platform she uses?
Would Linda Ikeji be able to buy these cars if
Andy Bechtolsheim the first venture capitalist
who funded Google’s startup with $100,000
had gone ahead to buy a Range Rover Sport
for $153,000?
Would Linda Ikeji be able to buy these cars if
Larry Page and Sergey Brin had used the
money they created with to buy a
Range Rover Sport?
As a matter of fact, Larry Page whose net
worth is $32.1 Billion doesn’t own a luxury
car as much as Linda Ikeji. His 3 automobiles
valued at $137,000 are all environmentally
friendly products
;
Toyota Prius, a hybrid electric mid-size
hatchback. It is among the most clean cars
of the world based on smog formation and
vehicular emissions. This was the world’s
first mass produced gasoline-electric hybrid
car. $20,000
Tesla Roadster, a Battery Electric Vehicle
sports car. It has the distinction of being
the first all-electric vehicle in serial
production. Larry Page is also a key
investor in the firm and thus was one of the
buyer of this car. $109, 000
Zero X motorbike , an Electric Vehicle from
Zero Motorcycles, which you can get for just
under US $ 8,000.
On the other hand, Sergey Brin, who has a net
worth of $ 30.7 Billion , like his partner, also
doesn’t own a luxury car as much as Linda
Ikeji. His 2 automobiles valued at $129,000 ,
are all environmentally friendly products; a
Toyota Prius [$20,000] and a Tesla Roadster
[$109,000]
.
The African Mentality of Wealth
As Africans, we have a very funny way of
utilizing wealth. Unlike our western
counterparts, who see wealth as a tool for the
creation of more wealth and more good in the
world, we see wealth as a tool for luxury.
We make money to ‘show off’, to make a
statement that we have arrived. Our appetite
for extravagancy increases as our wealth
increases. We suddenly forget how we once
survived without all these luxurious toys and
completely lose all senses of moderation.
One luxury car doesn’t seem to be enough; we
keep reaching out for more as more money
comes in. we decorate our garage with
expensive toys that are tying down valuable
resources that ought to be utilized for the
creation of more wealth and more good in the
world.
This is the same mentality common amongst
our politicians as well as religious leaders.
The open display of wealth and excessive
accumulation of luxury toys are all evident
around us. And yet we keep on complaining
that our economies are not growing. We keep
on wondering when Africa will measure up
with the rest of the world.
How can we ever measure up when all we do
with wealth is to spend it wastefully on
consumables rather than re-invest it on
wealth creating opportunities. Rather than use
of wealth to create Venture Capital firms that
will empower startups with seed funds, we
spend them on luxury toys that does no one
good but our selfish selves!
To Whom Much Is GIVEN, Much Is Expected
That Linda Ikeji rose to such level of affluence
while using a free blogging platform that some
other entrepreneurs created with their wealth,
is enough reason for her to tread wisely.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with her
first 2 cars, they were high profile cars
already. Going as much as spending $153,000
for a 3 rd car, was purely wasteful for someone
with her humble beginnings. You would think
she should be more considerate with money.
Less than the amount she spent on her 2014
Range Rover Sport, $100,000 was the seed
capital that built Google into a global $395
Billion brand that employs over 50,000 people
worldwide. If they didn’t use this money
wisely, Linda Ikeji won’t be making that much
from blogging for free.
Recently, on the 12 th of September, the same
Google offers $100,000 cloud credit for
startups
in order to create more success stories to add
to its portfolio.
The point of this essay is simple, that you have
so much is not a justification to waste so
much. With the same amount you waste on
luxury items, is what others have changed the
world with.
It is true that wealth reveals our true nature.
The wise become wiser as their wealth grows.
The generous gives more as their wealth
grows. The greedy acquires more as their
wealth grows. In the end, to whom much is
given, much is expected!
Conclusion: Linda Ikeji Needs To Stop
Showing Off!
As entrepreneurs, we are not like the folks in
the entertainment industry who flaunt their
toys every now and then. We have a higher
responsibility to make better use of the
resources at our disposal
. Business is an institution of society and the
society depends on us entrepreneurs for the
consistent creation of products/services that
push humanity forward.
Entrepreneurship is not showbiz.
Entrepreneurship is not about being a
celebrity. Entrepreneurship is about leaving a
legacy. Real entrepreneurs change the world
by doing stuffs that MATTER
. They are too busy making a difference. No
time for paparazzi!
Tito Philips, Jnr.
CEO at MADphilips Development Co.
Tito Philips, Jnr. leads a tribe of unusual
entrepreneurs at www.naijapreneur.com where
they are raising the bar of entrepreneurship
from a survival-driven venture to a purpose-
driven venture. He’s also the founder of
www.DifferentiateOnline.net Nigeria’s 1st
complete integrated digital marketing solution
for smart businesses.

PEOPLE DRINKING PANADOL FOR SOMEONE S HEADACHE SINCE 18BC

Na wah o. The guy that wrote that article is only trying to gain popularity in a cheap way. So he has weighed Linda's business/investment portfolio and found it wanting? His article reeks of envy, jealousy and bitterness... abi e dey pain am say she hammer with free blogging platform? How many articles has he written against all the millionaires and billionaires of this world who possess costlier cars, private jets, yatches, etc? Are they not entrepreneurs too? Abi he expects Linda to be 'holier'? why? because she is a Nigerian? Why cant some people thank God for the good that comes to others? Well, he may keep taking her panadol while she lives the life - she worked real hard for it. What she does is by no means easy and she deserves to spoil herself a bit every now and then. That is life. You work, you play. This is a lady that even gives out money to her blog visitors at planned intervals. Haba!! I am now wondering if this article wasn't written by a very bitter ex-boyfriend...

Well, she was only trying to keep up with the so called "celebrity lifestyle" which if you ask me, is unnecessary.

It is a life of slavery... You live life trying to keep up with the trend.

guy wetin concern you now?...na u make the money for her. if she want to spend like donald trump fine. if she wan mise like buffet na still her business.

I don't how much she has invested but I'll drop my line...


Today no be tomorrow.You av money today doesn't mean u'll av it tomorrow.Making money "stay" is far more difficult than getting it in d first place.Sometin might come up tomorrow and change the face/relevance of blogging-you neva can tell(remember d stock market tsunami).
Financial foolishness is wen your have 30million naira and you buy a car of 20million.
If she has investments outside blogging that brings her exponential income-fine.Cos datz d only way she can sustain d life she has decided to live.
Her next car must be a 2015 or 2016 as anytin lower would send tongues wagging.

#LastBullet...Money is nothing without financial intelligence.If Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson could go broke...I need say nothing more.

Okay. Now we both not Linda Ikeji

Lwkmd.....instead of u to go hussle ur own moni ya here talkin about anoda person's life...she has dsame 24hrs a dai u av...wat a shame..#Beta sit up nd get busy instead of talkin bout a young lady makin it...

singing as i stroll out of this thread " if i hustle my money, u won follow me chop am? na me bring u come lagos? abi i resemble your papa?"

@OP,im not surprised that what you have said is lost on those who have commented above me.Im sure many more would still call you jealous,envious and all what not.
What you have stated up there is soo true.What however matters to the black mind is ostentatious living.Constructively criticize them about it and you are seen as been envious.
Whether african american or african nigerian,the problem is same.The average black man needs to learn to give in order to build the community(and im not talking physical cash)

https://www.nairaland.com/125308/african-americans-spend-much-more

Put your mouth where your money is !

lionduke:

PEOPLE DRINKING PANADOL FOR SOMEONE S HEADACHE SINCE 18BC

don't u think u are d one drinking panadol for linda ikejis headache......what is ur problem with how people spend "THEIR" money nitori olorun ....ure an example of a typical "Crepehanger", let me save u d time of looking that up, it means ure a killjoy kinda person.......I wonder what mrvocalprowess aka linda's toyboy thinks about this, to think he was defending d smartphone economics guy

scarr: don't u think u are d one drinking panadol for linda ikejis headache......what is ur problem with how people spend "THEIR" money nitori olorun ....ure an example of a typical "Crepehanger", let me save u d time of looking that up, it means ure a killjoy kinda person.......I wonder what mrvocalprowess aka linda's toyboy thinks about this, to think he was defending d smartphone economics guy

dude,i don't think u can comprehend simple English, linda ikeji is rich!! she can afford a 24miillion naira car and a 40million naira car if she wants too! but a struggling guy looking for ends meet using a phone of 100k just to feel among is outrightly foolish.. i hope u understand now? and never call me Linda's toy boy again !! mtchwwww

linda ikeji is rich,for her to be able to buy a car of 24million (brand new), and still keep her 2 older cars u shud know d money is coming in well... but what can u say of a guy who is still struggling dat uses a bb z30,iphone6 or the latest note 4,a phone over 100k and can't boost of 15k in his account? it doesn't make sense to me..I'm not saying u shudnt spend ur money on sh.it u like,I'm just giving an advice, the final decision is in d persons hand anyway... and i hope scarr can understand dis simple English.. mtchwwww

mrvocalprowess: dude,i don't think u can comprehend simple English, linda ikeji is rich!! she can afford a 24miillion naira car and a 40million naira car if she wants too! but a struggling guy looking for ends meet using a phone of 100k just to feel among is outrightly foolish.. i hope u understand now? and never call me Linda's toy boy again !! mtchwwww

onyx onyx..trust me I understand u but who are u to judge who is rich or poor..i don't have any problem with linda's spending (u shld know dat already from what I posted) neither do I have any problem with d guy worth 100k and buys a phone 90k....so why go about advising d person u claim to b foolish...if it makes u happy pls biko do it and face d consequences...but dats not my biz sha.......if I call u her toyboy what would u do? report me to ur toy mom..u sef see ur signature na, and ure saying I shouldn't call u her toyboy.....*patiently waiting for "new hot pics" from linda's toyboy

scarr: onyx onyx..trust me I understand u but who are u to judge who is rich or poor..i don't have any problem with linda's spending (u shld know dat already from what I posted) neither do I have any problem with d guy worth 100k and buys a phone 90k....so why go about advising d person u claim to b foolish...if it makes u happy pls biko do it and face d consequences...but dats not my biz sha.......if I call u her toyboy what would u do? report me to ur toy mom..u sef see ur signature na, and ure saying I shouldn't call u her toyboy.....*patiently waiting for "new hot pics" from linda's toyboy

*sigh* grow up,grow up,grow up,kiss my an*s if u ever do ... kids invading Nairaland since 18BC

mrvocalprowess: *sigh* grow up,grow up,grow up,kiss my an*s if u ever do ... kids invading Nairaland since 18BC

coming from d "grown up" who is d son of a 30+ year old woman...have u begged ur mum for some dubai leftover googies

I_dey_ur_side_since_919bc.give_me_more...