Welcome to Profits & Losses, GQ’s new questionnaire about money that asks someone of note how they made it, lost it, spent it, grew it, and think about it.
My first big purchase: Both of my parents grew up on farms. We didn’t have a ton of money and I remember I wanted a skateboard, and my mom bought me a skateboard. And of course it wasn’t the skateboard at the time—this was in the ’70s—which was a Roller Derby XK. I remember [my mom] telling me, “Well, when you make your own money, you can buy whatever you want.” So then when I was eight years old I got a job delivering newspapers in my neighborhood. I got enough money, saved it, and I went and got my skateboard. If I had to guess, it was $25, $30.
My first big payday: When I was detasseling corn, $500 a week. I was thrilled.
Luxury means: I look at luxury as a taste, something that’s acquired through time. It comes through curiosity, it comes through travel, it comes through experience, books you read, the art, the architecture you love—all those things are a part of luxury. Luxury isn’t about how much money you have or how much money you’ve spent.
A luxury that’s worth its price: A good espresso. Personally, I don’t like machine espressos. I have a stovetop espresso maker that I bought in Europe that is my favorite thing to make an espresso because there’s a little bit of an art to it. I still have a frothing machine because that is hard to do.
A luxury that’s overrated: A handmade suit or a bespoke suit is certainly great, but you don’t need to spend that money. You can buy vintage—one of my favorite things to do—something that’s been around for a while that you have admired.
Most precious thing I have that I didn’t buy: One of my favorite things that I own or have is my father’s golf clubs. I remember when he passed 20-plus years ago, I was able to get his golf clubs, and I had them re-gripped. I still use them today because it reminds me of him.
The best business advice I ever got: My father always taught me to work hard and innovate, but he always would tell me, “But most of all, be nice.” And he always told me, “You’d be surprised at how many people screw that last one up.”
Something that I own multiples of: I love records. I got the passion behind vinyl probably 20 years ago. Just hearing vinyl is interesting, but it also feels more tangible. I also listen to music on my iPhone and all that, but a record is just a little bit more special. My favorite record is Boxer from the National. Pokémon cards are another thing I collect.
“I feel rich when…” everyone in my family’s happy. My mother came to visit during 4th of July and my brother came along with his daughter and his wife. My daughter was here as well. And that for me—having family together and having those moments—that’s what really is special.
“I feel poor when…” There’s always the times that you’re wishing you could go on a trip or whatever, but happiness isn’t really always about spending money. I probably got that from my parents: having values, being together, having good health, and all of that is more important. I think over time I’ve gotten to that. I don’t think I probably felt like that when I was younger, but I think being poor to me is not being challenged. When I’m not learning and I’m not getting to know more people and [gaining] understanding of people, I do feel poor.
