I'm $100 Trillion Poorer

June 15, 2015
Insights

I've got one of these Zimbabwean $100 trillion notes, a present from Steve a few years ago. According to the Financial Times, Zimbabwe is 'demonetising' and such notes will soon be officially worthless (they already functionally are).

Oh well. Being a multi-trillionaire was nice while it lasted but, as someone who shuns corporate jets, fancy cars, bottled water and the like, it had surprisingly little impact on my day-to-day existence.

The worth in my $100 trillion note isn't in what some banker will pay for it. It's in the reminder of the fleeting nature of such things. Value is entirely dependent on who or what stands behind something.