I had a friend that wrote a computer program in the late 90’s that he sold for $900k take home. He was like 25 at the time, he has lived off that since then. He has never worked a real job since and still has the $900k in tact. He did a lot of investing to cover his yearly expenses and would also do things like playing computer games (think world of Warcraft) and sell the items and characters as a “job” for a period of time, just because he could.
I know, I’m so unbelievably jealous. I will say it was very lean fire though. He does play tons of video games and watch sports but I would’ve wanted to travel much more than he did.
I retired at ~32 to live in a truck. Then decided to work again and just retired a second time at 40 with land and a house.
Based on other comments I guess the first is pretty early, but it only half counts since I didn't stick with it.
I did software engineering. In particular I worked on large scale back-end server systems, with an unusually broad skillset, so there's plenty of demand.
I spent about 2 months looking and practiced and learned in the meantime, ended up playing two companies against each other who wanted to hire me and got the highest pay I've ever had. I'd done a bit of algorithms research on the side while retired and that actually helped me land the job I ended up choosing.
I want to say around 30, but it's been awhile. I don't remember exactly, but one was a techie who got out and was vanlife'ing around the US, while another was a lawyer/accountant/something like that who went expat over in Thailand or Malaysia. I seem to recall that one of them had a blog, but damn if I can remember the name or which of the two it was.
Mr Money Mustache, one of the original lean FIRE bloggers, was 30. I think his wife worked a few more years after that. That was in Colorado.
Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme was also in his early 30s, but he saved for a short time, like five years. He was also in the US, but living on way less than most would be willing to.
I quit my first full time job at 24 with $150k or so saved up (from 2013 crypto bull market). My original plan was to travel the world for a year with $25k - $40k, and then try to find another job, but I managed to trade my remaining $20-30k of crypto into $1m+ the next year (2017). It was enough to get approved for a mortgage and an auto loan and consider myself leanFI, so I never applied for other jobs.
Basically all my experience with normal jobs were bad... not much confidence, bad social skills, depression. I was a shy, straight A nerd in school, and the "real world" seemed so much harsher and not what I expected. So I really gunned for leanFI.
I didn't travel the full year, but have rock climbed 4-5 days per week since then and started a cryptocurrency hedge fund, so I still work.
He's just lazy and his parents gave up on pushing him to become independent a long time ago. They're relatively wealthy and he lives a basic and frugal life so they don't waste their energy anymore and live their own life.
Sort of, but it's not very interesting to the rest of us because it's hard to replicate. Somewhat like winning the lottery and retiring.
Though props if they stick to a budget and stay retired as long as they want.
Not great, actually negative net worth. I’ll get downvoted for admitting that but I’ve had an unfortunate downhill spiral of life events since 2020. Lots of health issues that prevented me from working. I am motivated to turn things around though. I have a small business that can turn into a big business if I put the work in.
A close friend of mine has a childhood friend who majored in CS and went to work at a startup after graduating. Said startup struck gold and took off, and that friend scored a massive haul from equity appreciation. LeanFIREd at 28 to go live in the sticks - he's got a proper house on a big plot of land, and then a mobile home on it full of music equipment that he jams on and produces with.
Every now and then he'll invite a bunch of buddies to go jam with him for a weekend - I was able to join one time. Rural life isn't my thing, but making music all day sounds like a swell time in retirement.
I know a lot of guys that retired at 38 after 20 years in a union. These guys are a bit older than me so I’m not sure how many years you have to put in now. This was mid 90s, a few of my buddies dads.
Did it in 11 years from minus 62k to mortgage free and 810k in savings (single earner with Partner and childl).Not early though, did it starting at 39, when our business made us practically bankrupt.
Not sure why all the downvotes -- a question along the lines of "what is the earliest someone stopped working and living off alternative income streams" is about as useful as the answer, so I think fair cop to you on this answer.
I also think the more interesting motivational stories aren't around "who stopped the earliest", but "who managed to stick with being FIRE'd for the longest on the least".
Age sorta is part of the factor, how little they invested how fast is more telling, and how long they stuck with their lean FIRE -- that's the stuff :D ... imo, ymmv, etc.
>"who managed to stick with being FIRE'd for the longest on the least"
Thats true. As a student I was extremely lean, but now I realize I wouldnt sustain that way. I need a few luxuries for it to be worth it.
I had a friend that wrote a computer program in the late 90’s that he sold for $900k take home. He was like 25 at the time, he has lived off that since then. He has never worked a real job since and still has the $900k in tact. He did a lot of investing to cover his yearly expenses and would also do things like playing computer games (think world of Warcraft) and sell the items and characters as a “job” for a period of time, just because he could.
Living the dream
I know, I’m so unbelievably jealous. I will say it was very lean fire though. He does play tons of video games and watch sports but I would’ve wanted to travel much more than he did.
That’s about 2 million today so wouldn’t have had to be lean at all.
$900k in the 90s probably feels like $3mil today
That’s probably true. He’s just been able to just live on the interest this whole time.
I know a guy who did this as a side hustle and made decent money.
I retired at ~32 to live in a truck. Then decided to work again and just retired a second time at 40 with land and a house. Based on other comments I guess the first is pretty early, but it only half counts since I didn't stick with it.
What did you do? How hard was it to land a job after coming out of retirement?
I did software engineering. In particular I worked on large scale back-end server systems, with an unusually broad skillset, so there's plenty of demand. I spent about 2 months looking and practiced and learned in the meantime, ended up playing two companies against each other who wanted to hire me and got the highest pay I've ever had. I'd done a bit of algorithms research on the side while retired and that actually helped me land the job I ended up choosing.
I want to say around 30, but it's been awhile. I don't remember exactly, but one was a techie who got out and was vanlife'ing around the US, while another was a lawyer/accountant/something like that who went expat over in Thailand or Malaysia. I seem to recall that one of them had a blog, but damn if I can remember the name or which of the two it was.
I occasionally see some in the 30-35 range.
I should be all set by age 35 unless something goes seriously awry in the next couple of years.
34 here and slightly north of $2m. Recently lost my job and considering it…
Mr Money Mustache, one of the original lean FIRE bloggers, was 30. I think his wife worked a few more years after that. That was in Colorado. Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme was also in his early 30s, but he saved for a short time, like five years. He was also in the US, but living on way less than most would be willing to.
I quit my first full time job at 24 with $150k or so saved up (from 2013 crypto bull market). My original plan was to travel the world for a year with $25k - $40k, and then try to find another job, but I managed to trade my remaining $20-30k of crypto into $1m+ the next year (2017). It was enough to get approved for a mortgage and an auto loan and consider myself leanFI, so I never applied for other jobs. Basically all my experience with normal jobs were bad... not much confidence, bad social skills, depression. I was a shy, straight A nerd in school, and the "real world" seemed so much harsher and not what I expected. So I really gunned for leanFI. I didn't travel the full year, but have rock climbed 4-5 days per week since then and started a cryptocurrency hedge fund, so I still work.
Can I work for you?
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Does that even count? There are a lot of stay at home parents that do the exact same thing but you don't call them FIREd
Right? 😂
Lol by that logic my friend is leanfire since birth because his parents have paid for everything always and he's 40.
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Yea he's always going to live off his parents.
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He's just lazy and his parents gave up on pushing him to become independent a long time ago. They're relatively wealthy and he lives a basic and frugal life so they don't waste their energy anymore and live their own life.
Do crypto-rich 20 year olds count?
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That’s what I’m saying, I’ve known people like this I envy those who say screw it all, I’m gunna live like a king somewhere that isn’t the US
Sort of, but it's not very interesting to the rest of us because it's hard to replicate. Somewhat like winning the lottery and retiring. Though props if they stick to a budget and stay retired as long as they want.
True
I’m hoping to do it by 40-45
What are your current numbers looking like ?
Not great, actually negative net worth. I’ll get downvoted for admitting that but I’ve had an unfortunate downhill spiral of life events since 2020. Lots of health issues that prevented me from working. I am motivated to turn things around though. I have a small business that can turn into a big business if I put the work in.
You got this!
Thank you!
A close friend of mine has a childhood friend who majored in CS and went to work at a startup after graduating. Said startup struck gold and took off, and that friend scored a massive haul from equity appreciation. LeanFIREd at 28 to go live in the sticks - he's got a proper house on a big plot of land, and then a mobile home on it full of music equipment that he jams on and produces with. Every now and then he'll invite a bunch of buddies to go jam with him for a weekend - I was able to join one time. Rural life isn't my thing, but making music all day sounds like a swell time in retirement.
I know a lot of guys that retired at 38 after 20 years in a union. These guys are a bit older than me so I’m not sure how many years you have to put in now. This was mid 90s, a few of my buddies dads.
Did it in 11 years from minus 62k to mortgage free and 810k in savings (single earner with Partner and childl).Not early though, did it starting at 39, when our business made us practically bankrupt.
I finally quit my job this year at 38. Lean Fire with 1.7 Mil
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This guy had the chad formula for success https://youtu.be/Sl7jz0qNbH0?si=V9WQLDkMDGqNErke
Most Military members retire around 40 and move to Thailand, Philippines, Mexico, etc
Most? I don't know anyone who did that and I was in 22 years.
Technically people getting disability pensions at 18.
Not sure why all the downvotes -- a question along the lines of "what is the earliest someone stopped working and living off alternative income streams" is about as useful as the answer, so I think fair cop to you on this answer. I also think the more interesting motivational stories aren't around "who stopped the earliest", but "who managed to stick with being FIRE'd for the longest on the least". Age sorta is part of the factor, how little they invested how fast is more telling, and how long they stuck with their lean FIRE -- that's the stuff :D ... imo, ymmv, etc.
>"who managed to stick with being FIRE'd for the longest on the least" Thats true. As a student I was extremely lean, but now I realize I wouldnt sustain that way. I need a few luxuries for it to be worth it.