The first thing I love about David is that all the money he gets from his Substack goes to the Robin Hood Foundation. The second thing I love is that he didn't say so in this interview.
Lots to say about this rich guy but Anne your Substack video was beautiful! Arty AF and I loved what you said about creation. Never thought about it that way!!! Substack should make YOU Rich
I got a kick out of how artsy the video was too. And the music!
Also, I DO plan to get rich someday because I have BIG PLANS FOR DA MONEY!!!! Imagine the world's largest free petting zoo right in NYC with FREE COFFEE and CANDY!!!!!!!!
Thanks to you and David for giving us this candid and informal insight! And I really appreciate his initiative of inviting writers over for dinner. It's not everyday that a wealthy person opens up and shares so many details. I like how you are both connected to other Substackers. Your post proves that despite some obvious differences we are all just fellow travellers on life's road.
Glad you enjoyed this Renato! And yes, I have to say that David, at his two parties, has introduced me to a whole bunch of other Substack writers I'm still in touch with. He has GREAT taste in people, haha!
Nice Warhols, David! And the landscape behind your desk also caught my attention. Never mind dinner, I’m coming for the art tour. Oh, and by the way, great interview.
Warhols? Really? Taking a closer look don't see Rona. But am now wondering about that landscapey situation directly on the right that also looks like it could be an airport or a circuit board.
Those are actually photographs by an artist named Vic Muniz who creates installations, often inspired by other artists. They are far far less costly or valuable than the real thing but I think they have wonderful depth.
I was thinking of the garbage self-portrait we have as an installation. I'm not sure how he created the Warhol flowers. But often I prefer his riffs to the original.
David, I’m curious about the picture that I will tactlessly call Spaghetti Noodles, just behind the center of your desk. I LOVE that for a workplace theme. It reminds me of the first approach to a jigsaw puzzle, freshly dumped out of the box, waiting for order and glory. I believe such a picture over my desk would make me brilliant. What’s the story of that one?
1 - time to charge up for your newsletter because the value is over the top incredible AND you can get closer to becoming one of the wealthy New Yorkers!
2 - Cashews? That is just insane. But the video was beautiful and inspiring, so maybe it was worth the cashews they paid you.
3 - Love that David gives 25% away to others - that's a mensch!
Thank you thank you for such a wonderful weekly newsletter. It truly enhances my life.
uh oh - ChatGpt!! It all comes down to how you ask the question.
When I ask about people whose net worth is over $1M, the answer they give is less generous... "a report by U.S. Trust and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy noted that individuals with a net worth of $1 million or more donated around 4.3% of their income to charity on average."
It that is true then that makes David a super-mensch!
Another weekly Cafe Anne that hits it out of the park. I often find myself walking around NYC wondering what people do for a living to afford such extravagant lives. David comes across as very self aware which I feel is something wealthy people lack. I truly believe money doesn't make people happier BUT it can solve many issues where less fortunate struggle. The biggest thing wealthy people have over many others is time. Paying someone to drive, clean, buy your groceries or cook allows you to do more of what you want. That to me is the greatest thing about being wealthy. Time to do....whatever!
I agree Justin. If I had a lot of money I think I'd continue to keep my current apartment, clothes, etc. But I'd love to have someone else do the cleaning, drive me around, take care of the laundry etc. Even though I DO enjoy those things too and would probably miss them! I think what I'd really want to do is buy more time in general. I'd like to have 36 hours in day. But every seems to get 24 no matter how rich or poor.
You two and your regular people thinking, in which the "Rich Guy" tier is just $10k a month. No wonder you're still talking about your income in terms of Cinnabons. Think bigger guys!
Also Anne, do you have that awesome piano background accompaniment going on when you're doing your regular weekly stories? Maybe that's why people always stop and talk to you and give you such great answers, because of your soundtrack.
LOL so funny and so true about the regular thinking, Reader.
As for the soundtrack, maybe you're right—that it's like an aura that only some can detect. In any case I've got find out what that piano music is. It's just so...pleasant!
Wonderful interview. Thank you to David for being so open, honest and a willing participant. Here’s my question for him—(only because this is how I would spend) how many Broadway and off Broadway shows do you see per year? 😊
Oh good question CK! David I'm curious to know the answer too.
Do you know how many Bway shows I've been to, BTW, after living in this town for 30 years? ZERO. But it's cool as I'm not a theater person. I'd rather sit in the park, haha.
What!?!?!? For SHAME! LOL. What on earth is a "not a theater person" person? You love people, you love to hear their stories - no way on earth you're not a "theater person," whatever preconception exists in your head about insufferable elitists who drone on ad nauseum about the gifts of genius Stephen Sondheim over that 'hack' Andrew Lloyd Webber. Blech. Anyway, if nothing else, you need to go down to TKTS and interview ticket buyers about whether they're natives or tourists, what show they are the hoping to score tickets for and why, how many shows they typically see a year, what was the most disappointing show, what was the best surprise, etc.
I am not entirely surprised about you not having been to a Broadway show, but am very curious as to how far this goes. What about off-Broadway. No plays? No musicals?
Every once in a while a friend will have an extra ticket and invite me along and the production always feels super cringe. Trying to keep an open mind though!
But my wife and younger son Michael love theater and go all the time. Michael is on the junior boars of the Public Theater. It's his real passion. And my wife has a group of friends she goes to theater with pretty often.
Girls road trip? Hehe. A producer on LinkedIn posted it. I will see if it has the dates. I believe it’s this fall and of course with celebrities it will be a limited run.
Great interview—I wish every interview ended with the funeral questions. I suspect it’s a line that makes one’s exact level of madness clear. Even the evasions.
Well, I bought The Other Almanac because it looks fascinating. It's a book that's right up my alley. I've never read The Farmers Almanac, but maybe I'll buy a copy of that as well.
The video was a work of art. It's great to get to see you speaking and being your authentic and kooky self.
And the feature...I have mixed feelings about. If I were rich I'd give to every panhandler I saw, no matter where the money was going. It's not my job to judge them or assess their spending habits to see whether they're "worthy" of my charity. If what they need is booze or drugs to make it through another day, then by god they can buy it. It's none of my business.
Oh Justin that's great you bought the Almanac. Let me know how you like it! And thanks for your kind words re: the video.
Your comment and David's POV has got me thinking I should do a feature on the question of giving to panhandlers. Maybe for next week. It's such a serious topic though. I wonder how I could make it more fun?
I thought you’d already done one! I remember you teaching me what a panhandler was and a comment I made about not having enough coins and me then learning that you still have paper dollars in America. (Our smallest paper note is $5 in Australia.) Funny the things we remember.
The question I wished you had asked was that David said most wealthy people were not introspective. Why did he end up introspective? Nature? Nurture? If he thinks it was nurture, could he give details?
I think it's part of my nature because I've always loved to read and think about ideas and history. I only became truly and intentionally introspective, however, when i started writing personal essays. That's the powerful nurture part.
Thank you for answering! I hope you don't mind another question. Why do you think you started writing personal essays when not a lot of other wealthy people have? I am wondering if there is something in your make up (besides the love of reading and thinking about history and ideas you've already mentioned) or upbringing that explains why you are the way you are. Did your parents do something different from other wealthy parents? Did you have a great relationship with a philophically oriented gardener at your parent's estate (read too many Victorian novels, Mary?) ? That kind of thing.
You brought back a memory of a gardener, John, who was both a sweet man (he brought us delicious homemade Italian cookies) but also lectured us that when he wasn't there my wife and I needed to water the ground all around our lovely white birch trees, to the point where we felt guilty if we didn't and also felt we were working for him. "more water; they're thirsty"
I think part of the reason i write is because I was dissatisfied with most of the writing about the wealthy. Lacking nuance and often accuracy.
I love that! The birch trees of very rich people need water, too. Being very rich doesn't keep your trees from following the laws of nature.
So, maybe it *was* your love of reaading that lead you to be more introspective? Maybe the other rich peole are different from you in that they didn't read the other stuff and know to be dissatisfied with it? Or were they reading it and not recognizing its inaccuracy?
Your video was great. I have come to believe the hardest thing for most people is to be authentic because it requires a whole bunch of life skills. You have them and make it look easy.
Thanks Mr. Dolan! I do like to think I've put a lot into trying to think things through and presenting my conclusions as honestly as I can. I know you have as well!
An expression I heard nearly 30 years ago has stuck with me. A colleague shared an expression of his father's. "The loudest horn knows the fewest notes". We all have examples of this in our lives. Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it even might feel good. We know deep down it is foolishness. Life has borne out for me that when people yell and claim some absolutes, they are mostly to be ignored. You never do that.
The first thing I love about David is that all the money he gets from his Substack goes to the Robin Hood Foundation. The second thing I love is that he didn't say so in this interview.
It's true Isabel! It was a two-hour interview as I mentioned and that never came up.
I didn’t know that! That’s really sweet. And yeah, the fact that he didn’t mention it at all speaks volumes of David’s character.
his is a generosity which requires no witnesses demands no credit the best kind and as always "by their friends, you shall know them" wink
Lots to say about this rich guy but Anne your Substack video was beautiful! Arty AF and I loved what you said about creation. Never thought about it that way!!! Substack should make YOU Rich
LOL thanks Zoe.
I got a kick out of how artsy the video was too. And the music!
Also, I DO plan to get rich someday because I have BIG PLANS FOR DA MONEY!!!! Imagine the world's largest free petting zoo right in NYC with FREE COFFEE and CANDY!!!!!!!!
omigad, the video was beautiful!!! tears sprang to my eyes!
Awwww so sweet, thank you Eliza. I have to say, it's some good editing on their part! The two minutes was distilled from an hour of interviewing!
Thanks to you and David for giving us this candid and informal insight! And I really appreciate his initiative of inviting writers over for dinner. It's not everyday that a wealthy person opens up and shares so many details. I like how you are both connected to other Substackers. Your post proves that despite some obvious differences we are all just fellow travellers on life's road.
Glad you enjoyed this Renato! And yes, I have to say that David, at his two parties, has introduced me to a whole bunch of other Substack writers I'm still in touch with. He has GREAT taste in people, haha!
Nice Warhols, David! And the landscape behind your desk also caught my attention. Never mind dinner, I’m coming for the art tour. Oh, and by the way, great interview.
Warhols? Really? Taking a closer look don't see Rona. But am now wondering about that landscapey situation directly on the right that also looks like it could be an airport or a circuit board.
Glad you enjoyed the interview!
Warhol did a lot of giant flowers. Check the far lefthand side of the photo of David’s sitting room. Think I see two.
Good catch, Rona!
Those are actually photographs by an artist named Vic Muniz who creates installations, often inspired by other artists. They are far far less costly or valuable than the real thing but I think they have wonderful depth.
https://file-magazine.com/blog/flowers-after-warhol
Thanks Paul. That's a very cool, inside look at his work. We'd love to see the works you're interested ins selling.
My email is robertsdavidn@gmail.com
I was thinking of the garbage self-portrait we have as an installation. I'm not sure how he created the Warhol flowers. But often I prefer his riffs to the original.
David, I’m curious about the picture that I will tactlessly call Spaghetti Noodles, just behind the center of your desk. I LOVE that for a workplace theme. It reminds me of the first approach to a jigsaw puzzle, freshly dumped out of the box, waiting for order and glory. I believe such a picture over my desk would make me brilliant. What’s the story of that one?
Wow - another Incredible issue.
1 - time to charge up for your newsletter because the value is over the top incredible AND you can get closer to becoming one of the wealthy New Yorkers!
2 - Cashews? That is just insane. But the video was beautiful and inspiring, so maybe it was worth the cashews they paid you.
3 - Love that David gives 25% away to others - that's a mensch!
Thank you thank you for such a wonderful weekly newsletter. It truly enhances my life.
Wow! Thank you for your kind words, mordy. Glad you enjoyed the video and the issue.
I think both of us know that the cashew is the BEST NUT.
Now I am curious, among the very rich, is 25% of one's spending going to philanthropy typical? Unusually large? Less than average?
Okay, I just asked ChatGPT. It says that 10-15% is typical. So David is menschier than the norm.
uh oh - ChatGpt!! It all comes down to how you ask the question.
When I ask about people whose net worth is over $1M, the answer they give is less generous... "a report by U.S. Trust and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy noted that individuals with a net worth of $1 million or more donated around 4.3% of their income to charity on average."
It that is true then that makes David a super-mensch!
Another weekly Cafe Anne that hits it out of the park. I often find myself walking around NYC wondering what people do for a living to afford such extravagant lives. David comes across as very self aware which I feel is something wealthy people lack. I truly believe money doesn't make people happier BUT it can solve many issues where less fortunate struggle. The biggest thing wealthy people have over many others is time. Paying someone to drive, clean, buy your groceries or cook allows you to do more of what you want. That to me is the greatest thing about being wealthy. Time to do....whatever!
I agree Justin. If I had a lot of money I think I'd continue to keep my current apartment, clothes, etc. But I'd love to have someone else do the cleaning, drive me around, take care of the laundry etc. Even though I DO enjoy those things too and would probably miss them! I think what I'd really want to do is buy more time in general. I'd like to have 36 hours in day. But every seems to get 24 no matter how rich or poor.
wait what's wrong with Industry
😂
Currently watching, and would also love him to expand on this! I'm so curious about opinions on the show from people who worked in Finance
You’re a great interviewer, Anne, and I enjoy tagging along with you here every week.
Thanks Marina. So glad you enjoyed the interview!
This is really interesting! One of my favorite visits to the Cafe, and not just because you linked to Chortle 😁
Please tell David that I’d love for him to subscribe to my newsletter at a special Rich Guy tier for the low, low price of $10,000/month!
Thanks Greg!
I think I will start a "Rich Guy" tier as well. You never know!!!
You two and your regular people thinking, in which the "Rich Guy" tier is just $10k a month. No wonder you're still talking about your income in terms of Cinnabons. Think bigger guys!
Also Anne, do you have that awesome piano background accompaniment going on when you're doing your regular weekly stories? Maybe that's why people always stop and talk to you and give you such great answers, because of your soundtrack.
LOL so funny and so true about the regular thinking, Reader.
As for the soundtrack, maybe you're right—that it's like an aura that only some can detect. In any case I've got find out what that piano music is. It's just so...pleasant!
LOLLOLLOLOLOL
Wonderful interview. Thank you to David for being so open, honest and a willing participant. Here’s my question for him—(only because this is how I would spend) how many Broadway and off Broadway shows do you see per year? 😊
Oh good question CK! David I'm curious to know the answer too.
Do you know how many Bway shows I've been to, BTW, after living in this town for 30 years? ZERO. But it's cool as I'm not a theater person. I'd rather sit in the park, haha.
What!?!?!? For SHAME! LOL. What on earth is a "not a theater person" person? You love people, you love to hear their stories - no way on earth you're not a "theater person," whatever preconception exists in your head about insufferable elitists who drone on ad nauseum about the gifts of genius Stephen Sondheim over that 'hack' Andrew Lloyd Webber. Blech. Anyway, if nothing else, you need to go down to TKTS and interview ticket buyers about whether they're natives or tourists, what show they are the hoping to score tickets for and why, how many shows they typically see a year, what was the most disappointing show, what was the best surprise, etc.
I can see it now, JEB—"TKTS Booth Confidential!"
Haha. Great idea!
I am not entirely surprised about you not having been to a Broadway show, but am very curious as to how far this goes. What about off-Broadway. No plays? No musicals?
Every once in a while a friend will have an extra ticket and invite me along and the production always feels super cringe. Trying to keep an open mind though!
Oh, this partially answers the tongue in cheek mini-rant I posted a few minutes ago. Curious what kind of stuff you're found "cringe"...
Yes, Anne. Do tell. What is cringe-worthy? I know there are some off off off Bway shows that would certainly fit into this category.
Self awareness is to be treasured. 🙏🥰
Not too many for me. Maybe 2-3.
But my wife and younger son Michael love theater and go all the time. Michael is on the junior boars of the Public Theater. It's his real passion. And my wife has a group of friends she goes to theater with pretty often.
Nice!! There’s going to be a production of Othello with Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel!
Any idea when, Carissa? I might need to get to the city for that!
Girls road trip? Hehe. A producer on LinkedIn posted it. I will see if it has the dates. I believe it’s this fall and of course with celebrities it will be a limited run.
My sis and fam are in Brooklyn. Time for Auntie to visit…. ❤️❤️❤️
I sent you a DM.
Anne,
I loved the video. It made me feel very relaxed. And your answer about creation was truly beautiful.
Aww thank you David!
And thanks for answering the follow-up questions posted in the comments. It's so fun to know what others are curious about and read your responses!
Great interview—I wish every interview ended with the funeral questions. I suspect it’s a line that makes one’s exact level of madness clear. Even the evasions.
Hmmm! Now I am thinking I could devote a whole issue to asking random New Yorkers this question!
I think those hills have gold.
Well, I bought The Other Almanac because it looks fascinating. It's a book that's right up my alley. I've never read The Farmers Almanac, but maybe I'll buy a copy of that as well.
The video was a work of art. It's great to get to see you speaking and being your authentic and kooky self.
And the feature...I have mixed feelings about. If I were rich I'd give to every panhandler I saw, no matter where the money was going. It's not my job to judge them or assess their spending habits to see whether they're "worthy" of my charity. If what they need is booze or drugs to make it through another day, then by god they can buy it. It's none of my business.
Oh Justin that's great you bought the Almanac. Let me know how you like it! And thanks for your kind words re: the video.
Your comment and David's POV has got me thinking I should do a feature on the question of giving to panhandlers. Maybe for next week. It's such a serious topic though. I wonder how I could make it more fun?
I thought you’d already done one! I remember you teaching me what a panhandler was and a comment I made about not having enough coins and me then learning that you still have paper dollars in America. (Our smallest paper note is $5 in Australia.) Funny the things we remember.
Imagining all the luxuries in which they would indulge! Let's give 1k to everybody on a stoop and dream up their adventures!!
Great idea Isabel. Though even $1k might not go very far in this crazy town...
The question I wished you had asked was that David said most wealthy people were not introspective. Why did he end up introspective? Nature? Nurture? If he thinks it was nurture, could he give details?
Both!
I think it's part of my nature because I've always loved to read and think about ideas and history. I only became truly and intentionally introspective, however, when i started writing personal essays. That's the powerful nurture part.
Thank you for answering! I hope you don't mind another question. Why do you think you started writing personal essays when not a lot of other wealthy people have? I am wondering if there is something in your make up (besides the love of reading and thinking about history and ideas you've already mentioned) or upbringing that explains why you are the way you are. Did your parents do something different from other wealthy parents? Did you have a great relationship with a philophically oriented gardener at your parent's estate (read too many Victorian novels, Mary?) ? That kind of thing.
You brought back a memory of a gardener, John, who was both a sweet man (he brought us delicious homemade Italian cookies) but also lectured us that when he wasn't there my wife and I needed to water the ground all around our lovely white birch trees, to the point where we felt guilty if we didn't and also felt we were working for him. "more water; they're thirsty"
I think part of the reason i write is because I was dissatisfied with most of the writing about the wealthy. Lacking nuance and often accuracy.
I love that! The birch trees of very rich people need water, too. Being very rich doesn't keep your trees from following the laws of nature.
So, maybe it *was* your love of reaading that lead you to be more introspective? Maybe the other rich peole are different from you in that they didn't read the other stuff and know to be dissatisfied with it? Or were they reading it and not recognizing its inaccuracy?
Thank you so much for answering my questions. I"m glad you write and hope you continue introspecting happily and sharing it with us for a long time.
Great question, Mary! Don't know if David is still monitoring the comments section, so I'll email this over to him to get a response.
Your video was great. I have come to believe the hardest thing for most people is to be authentic because it requires a whole bunch of life skills. You have them and make it look easy.
Thanks Mr. Dolan! I do like to think I've put a lot into trying to think things through and presenting my conclusions as honestly as I can. I know you have as well!
An expression I heard nearly 30 years ago has stuck with me. A colleague shared an expression of his father's. "The loudest horn knows the fewest notes". We all have examples of this in our lives. Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it even might feel good. We know deep down it is foolishness. Life has borne out for me that when people yell and claim some absolutes, they are mostly to be ignored. You never do that.
A great interview that has inspired me to continue to handle all taking out trash duties in the household. Also, love the Edward Burtnskys!
And that is such a fantastic video! It makes sense that such a good interviewer would also make a good interviewee.
Awww thank you Rob!
Just googled Edward Burtnskys I'd been wondering what those strange photos were! Feeling very satisfied now.