As the dust settles from Google's $1.65 billion purchase of Internet video hub YouTube, serious questions remain. Such as: What on earth were co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen thinking when they had these silly photos taken? The same question could be asked of the founders of Google Inc.(NASDAQ:GOOG), PayPal, Digg and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) after their big payouts. Is it a symptom of striking it rich, or a carefully planned public relations scheme we just don't understand?
You decide: Check out our analysis of what went right with these promotional shots... and what went certifiably wrong.
After review, we must ask: What have we learned? Is it simply that young tech titans will forever be geeks at heart? Or could it be that -- suddenly rich and famous -- they feel the need for self-depreciation, to "keep it real" so-to-speak with the millions who obsessively use their products?
That may be unfair. Instead, we place the blame on the photographers -- these mysteriously esoteric people with an arsenal of bright turtlenecks, cargo pants and Jungle Gyms -- whose sole responsibility is to make sure that our beloved dot com billionaires look... well, not silly.
Then again, who are we to judge? Might one of us become unbearably silly in front of the camera, like Hurley and Chen did recently in front of a TGI Friday's, were we to find ourselves with the ability to purchase five -- that's right -- five Cadillac Escalade SRX Crossovers? Possibly. Though not in front of a Friday's.
B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-25-2006 @ 6:59PM
mike said...
no matter what i think of the photos, i always think:"Why didnt i think of that?".
I am trying to think what i would do if i just sold my year old company for 1.6 BILLION!!!
I am sure it would be really goofy and i just wouldnt give a damn!!
Who says Americans arent clever anymore?
Best wishes you new billionares!!
mk
10-26-2006 @ 5:09AM
Helen said...
I have a hunch that once Sony and everyone elses intellectual property has been taken down from YouTube they are going to need some of their own silly pictures to pad the site out!
10-26-2006 @ 3:48PM
Randy Bartone said...
Hello,
Hey, great web site, and very informative. I really enjoy reading about
the new Internet Billionaires because it gives me ope. I personally
think that the next business that will portrayed on here will be HornDog
State University Clothing Line www.cafepress.com/horndogstate
http://www.cafepress.com/horndogstate. From what I've have been able
to find out this is a temporary web site but the new site is scheduled
to be released in a week or two at www.fictionaluniversity.com
http://www.fictionaluniversity.com. They currently have 450 HDSU and
"No Beer Goggles Required" products for sale and they have an estimated
5000 to 10,000 more coming soon! The clothing line is really cool and it
mostly caters to young adults. The clothing has been featured many
times on MTV & National Lamoon's College Network. Check them out I am
sure that you will enjoy it! Also look for them at Spring Break "2006".
Sincerely,
Randy Bartone
10-26-2006 @ 4:09PM
A Shot in the pan and downfall for Google said...
$1.65 Billion for a web site with short mostly silly video's. Who in this world would not have taken $1.6 million for such a site. Did google offer less or go right to $1.65 Billion. Lets see, the co-creators get a call from Google one day and an offer for lets say $5 million. Does anybody see these Youtube guys actually saying "NO" or let me think about it and talk to my mom. Did they call back the next day with their answer, "we won't take a penny less than $1.65 Billion which is $1.64 Billion $998 million, $850,000 more than we have in it.
Yea, I know venture capatilists invested several millions with youtube and there was 8-10 million in loans to be paid back. The venture capitalists probably see the advertising sales and profits that can be made with a site like Youtube and invision getting a good return on their money.
But really, google execs woke up one day and said lets offer the outrageously stupid amount of $1.65 billion for a company that is less than 2 years old, with an unprooven profit generation system, that is in the big red hole already. Then someone chimes in with,"maybe we could invest a couple of thousand and start our own"
"open to the public video site", then with our existing name and product recognition, we can be in profit in months instead of 100 years. Oh, I can still hear the answer. We don't have time we have to go and sit for stupid photos so that we can show our stock holders just how much they have to fear in the future.
Maybe I should take a serious look at what Google just did and call up and ask if I can advertise my doohickies on their new site. Who cares about research as to number of hits they will get, or who their primary audience will be, or how long the ad will run or if there were any market studys to see if "Lonely Girl" (a popular 15 yo who has a reputaion for silly videos on Youtube)will be willing to shell out money for my product, If she has any money that is. Let's see based on how much they paid for the site, I will just offer to pay one million for my short 30 second scrolling banner. I came up with that silly number the same way Google came up with $1.65 Billion, without thinking to long. It's my guess that before long the name will change to "YOUBOOB".
10-26-2006 @ 4:37PM
John said...
Great article congratulations and good luck to Chad Hurley and Steven Chen.
10-26-2006 @ 4:35PM
Marcus said...
Great article Congratulations to Chad Hurley and Steven Chen.
10-26-2006 @ 4:59PM
CH said...
I wish I thought of those things to. Well, I wish you all the best of luck. I love to read about these things though.
11-13-2006 @ 3:18PM
John Huckleberry said...
Google buy me! I'm for sell or rent.
750 million. Google me, John Huckleberry, Inzane Records, Hollywood Tonight, Hollywood Tonight Productions, SOS Production, Hollywood Tonight Sound, At Party Hollywood, Real To Real Films, We Ho PD, Hollywood Tonight Magazine, Radio IR and a few others.
Thanks and oh yeah, wow, congrats, amazing and omg on your purchase,
I should be next.
10-26-2006 @ 10:39PM
Anna Nichole said...
And you might check to see how many strip clubs the valley is supporting. How about an article on millionaire lap dancers?
10-27-2006 @ 1:39AM
roger said...
Oh Oh man they better have Mikeals I have a hot date this weekend with some girl scouts free popcorn and da movies ya parents also!
10-27-2006 @ 4:27AM
roger said...
Well after tommorow I'll share some of my thoughts about who will be hot and thinking yell and whos not but i will share one that will be a hit Dell the best product and service today don't forget the service is what counts
10-27-2006 @ 5:06AM
John Holthouse said...
It's just a form of arrogance: "Hey, we're bulletproof!" Or maybe it's an unintended default to the ridiculous, American mythos that – since geniuses are big children – then one proves “genius” by displaying and documenting childish behavior in public. Or it could just be a hyper-nerdish “last hurrah.”