How to Get Rich (from a prolific investor)
Apr 05, 2025Read time - 3.5 minutes / Disclaimer
Getting rich means:
- No boss.
- No 9-5 grind.
- No stressing over money.
Unfortunately, society considers these things normal.
Modern Wealth
In school we're told financial success equals:
- A fancy degree.
- A fancy job title.
- A six figure income.
But what if you want to play a different game?
A game that allows you to build wealth faster.
Naval Ravikant, a well known investor sees things differently.
Naval Ravikant | Photo from X
Naval's family came to the U.S. as immigrants.
They had little money but a lot of ambition.
Naval worked his way through school and later became an early investor in:
- Uber
- Postmates
His story is fascinating (going from $0 to millions).
Naval posted a thread called:
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky) that went viral.
Here's 7 big takeaways.
Let's dive in:
1. Seek Wealth Not Money
Naval explains—
"Wealth is assets that earn while you sleep."
For example:
- Investing in stocks.
OR
- Renting out a home.
Each grow in value over time.
But neither need your full-time attention.
View wealth as businesses and assets that earn money while you sleep.
2. Wealth Buys Freedom
Assets grow 24/7.
For example:
Businesses (like stocks) increase over the long term:
$1 invested in stock doubles to $2 every 8 years on average.
Other assets (like real estate) also grow over the long term:
A $500,000 property today will become a $1,000,000 property in the future.
Naval states—
"You want (to build) wealth so you don't have to waste your life grinding away at a soulless job that doesn't fulfill you."
Investing part of each paycheck is a way to escape 9-5 life early.
3. Money is Social Credit
Think of money like IOUs.
If you do your job right and create value for society.
You're owed an IOU (aka money).
The more value you create, the more IOUs you get.
IOUs get debased (aka inflation) because people steal the IOUs.
For example:
- The government prints extra IOUs
(money)
OR
- People don't pay their IOUs
(bills)
Maximize your IOUs by creating a lot of value for a lot of people.
4. Minimize Renting Out Your Time
Being an employee has limits.
Naval shares—
"You're not going to get rich by renting out your time. You must own equity."
For example:
- Being an investor.
OR
- Starting a business.
Learn to sell. Learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable.
— Naval (@naval) May 31, 2018
Building significant wealth requires significant ownership in assets (like a business).
5. Compound Interest is a Marvelous Force
Naval explains—
"All the benefits in life come from compound interest."
For example:
- Learning
- Relationships
- Making money
You must be able to play long-term games with long-term people.
Knowledge, trust, and financial wealth compound and grow over time.
6. Arm Yourself With Specific Knowledge
Specific knowledge has value.
It means being great in a specific domain like:
- Weather forecasting
OR
- Investing, like Warren Buffett
Specific knowledge is knowledge that you cannot be trained for. If society can train you, it can train someone else, and replace you.
— Naval (@naval) May 31, 2018
Find your specific knowledge by pursuing your curiosities and natural talents.
7. Everyone Can Be Rich
The internet is a lever, use it.
Naval explains—
"People think making money is about luck. It's not. It's about becoming the kind of person that makes money.
It's about giving society what it wants, at scale using leverage."
For example:
- Sharing your specific knowledge online.
- Offering a product that solves a person's problem.
- Using leverage like social media to reach millions of people.
“Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.”
— Archimedes
Conclusion
Naval's social post has been viewed millions of times.
It's a great framework to think through.
Especially if you have big hairy money goals.
Here's the full post:
How to Get Rich (without getting lucky):
— Naval (@naval) May 31, 2018
Keep building đź’°
See you next week.
