Billionaire Founder Of WhatsApp Leaves Job With Facebook For Most Silicon Valley Reason Ever

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People leave jobs for all sorts of reasons: Maybe they’re taking a step up the ladder at a better company. Maybe they want a change, ready to leave the office life for a life of public service. Maybe they’re just sick of the day-to-day stress and want to focus on what’s important, like more time with family or ready to focus on that organic, artisanal tomato garden.

For 99% of people, gainful employment is a necessary evil as a member of society. But what about those who don’t have to work yet are still in the workforce? IE, people like Jan Koum, cofounder of WhatsApp. Jan made about $9 billion when he sold his messaging app to Facebook in 2014. After 4 years of running the ship within the corridors of power at Facebook (…and, presumably, having all his stock finally vest), he’s ready to step away.

The reason he cited for his exit, however, is straight out of HBO’s Silicon Valley.

It’s been almost a decade since Brian and I started WhatsApp, and it’s been an amazing journey with some of the best people. But it is time for me to move on. I’ve been blessed to work with such an incredibly small team and see how a crazy amount of focus can produce an app used by so many people all over the world.

I’m leaving at a time when people are using WhatsApp in more ways than I could have imagined. The team is stronger than ever and it’ll continue to do amazing things. I’m taking some time off to do things I enjoy outside of technology, such as collecting rare air-cooled Porsches, working on my cars and playing ultimate frisbee. And I’ll still be cheering WhatsApp on – just from the outside. Thanks to everyone who has made this journey possible.

Ah, yes. The great proletariat everyman hobby of “collecting rare air-cooled Porsches.” Dude, you couldn’t have just said bobbleheads or something like normal human being?

Those “air-cooled Porsches” like 911s from the ’70s, by the way, start at $27,000 over on Ebay.