A couple of questions spring to mind.

First off, while FB has undoubtedly done amazing things and pulls in huge numbers of people, has it really created $50 billion of value?

I don't think so.

I'm still remembering wise words I read over the weekend: "It's a one-on-one fistfight between you and Mark Zuckerberg for control of your brain. Make sure you win."

Secondly, seeing the name of Goldman Sachs involved makes me even more suspicious. Unlike some of the great West Coast VCs who have done sterling work in backing entrepreneurs and creating long-term value, GS seems to me to have a track record in ultra-high-stakes gambles where they get the winnings and others shoulder the losses.

I smell raw greed. I see people drooling at obsenely huge amounts of money. Winners take it it all, screw the rest. Yuk.

Yep Thomas, & indeed since time immemorial the 'leaders' have indeed followed, controlled (abused?) and benefited from the supply of these and other basics…

However, inventive technologies, fresh tools & innovative investments arise in each decade, paraphernalia that become with promotion & 'follow the herd' mentalities the 'must-haves' of our time…

These 'must-haves' become the norm & are further developed until we not only 'need' them but cannot do without them and so on….

Such is the evolution of economies, and the resourceful creation of enterprises…

''@May I add that the future true leaders of industry & the builders of fortunes may be those who recognise with clarity what they, we & the world believes are necessities...''

Food, water, shelter, sex, minerals are necessities Norman so what do you mean?

@'As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.'
Bill Gates

Clever chap - perceptive comment...

May I add that the future true leaders of industry & the builders of fortunes may be those who recognise with clarity what they, we & the world believes are necessities...

2012 should see a $100bn IPO and the largest in history 17 years after it all begun with Netscape.

''As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.''
Bill Gates

It does seem like a crazy valuation but with 500million+ users and the fact that it has more traffic than Google at times makes it a valuable site.

I don't think they have hit their stride when 'monetising' the site either so the potential might suggest it being worth 50 billion



Dot Design

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Actually we have several clients named 'Sachs' & even more called 'Goldman' but sadly none called 'Goldman Sachs'

Ain't life a bu.......

they did not call yet?
...tsssss ;-)

Any chance of Goldman Sachs taking a look at investing in SimplyFone...?

We could do with a little men£$£oring after these holidays..

Hi Norman,

Goldman Sachs has built their business on taking huge risks with other people's money... there's a whole history of it.

Any time they're short - the 'Fed' picks up the bill.....

Heads = they win....... Tails = the good 'ol IOU$A aka the much preyed upon American taxpayer picks up the loss.

Brilliant business Model!

Angus

Happy New Year Norman

I saw an article in the NYT and the Dutch FD this morning that Goldman Sachs invested 450 mil. in Facebook...Also they invested 75mil. in Digital Sky Technologies (Media)...there is no doubt that they do that because there is a (huge) profit in the near future....

Back to Wooden Shoes and #HCNWG

Cornelis de Maijer