Daniel George, a former Google X employee and VP at JP Morgan, achieved financial independence and early retirement at the age of 29. Starting with only $1,000 in 2017, he aggressively invested his income in stocks and reached his first $1 million by his late 20s. By 2023, his yearly expenses in the US were less than 2% of his investments, allowing him to quit his job and focus on his startup, ThirdEar AI.
One key factor in Daniel’s success was avoiding educational debt. Growing up in India, he studied at a government college and later pursued a Ph.D. in the US, where he received tuition waivers and stipends. This allowed him to complete his education without accumulating debt and start his career with a solid financial foundation. Additionally, he invested aggressively in stocks from a young age, taking advantage of compounding growth and market fluctuations to increase his wealth.
Daniel also chose to work in expensive cities such as San Francisco and New York early in his career to maximize his income potential. By keeping his expenses low and investing most of his earnings, he was able to build a substantial portfolio in a relatively short amount of time. He emphasizes the importance of negotiating pay and leveraging multiple job offers to secure competitive compensation packages, as well as finding a partner who shares similar financial goals and values.
By following these strategies, Daniel was able to achieve financial independence and retire early, allowing him to pursue his passions and focus on building his startup. He credits his success to careful financial planning, strategic investment decisions, and a minimalist lifestyle that prioritizes experiences over material possessions. Ultimately, Daniel’s story serves as a testament to the power of smart financial choices and long-term planning in achieving financial freedom and early retirement.
