Jake Kassan, a self-made millionaire who sold MVMT Watches for $100 million, is now opening up about the emotional struggles that followed his financial success. Despite achieving his dreams, Kassan found that wealth didn’t bring him the happiness and fulfillment he had anticipated. At 33, he has shifted his focus toward new ventures and mentoring fellow entrepreneurs, sharing valuable lessons from his own journey.
The Price of Success: Anxiety and Depression After the Sale
Jake Kassan’s story took an unexpected turn after the sale of MVMT Watches in 2018. At just 27, he sold the brand for an impressive $100 million. He believed that achieving financial success would lead to lasting happiness, but instead, he faced a loss of purpose. “I felt like I had lost my sense of purpose,” Kassan confessed.
Despite the monetary success, Kassan struggled with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks that took a toll on his mental health. “I reached the summit of what I believed was my mountain, but I didn’t find the fulfillment I had been searching for,” he explained in a YouTube video.
The Disconnect Between Wealth and Happiness
After selling MVMT, Kassan found himself dealing with a void that money couldn’t fill. His identity had been tied to being an entrepreneur, and after the sale, he no longer had a clear mission or purpose. “For years, my identity was tied to being an entrepreneur. But suddenly, I no longer had a clear mission that felt meaningful,” he admitted. The paradox of being wealthy yet feeling lost was emotionally draining.
Though he had a social circle, finding people who could relate to his situation was difficult. “How do you get people to understand the paradox of being wealthy yet feeling completely lost?” Kassan shared. He soon realized that no amount of wealth could buy him the peace of mind he was searching for. “I can’t buy more peace of mind. That’s my relationship with money. I’m grateful for it, but there’s nothing that it can do that is going to make me a happier person,” he said.
A Shift in Focus: New Ventures and Mentorship
At 33, Kassan is now focused on new endeavors that bring him a sense of purpose. He is growing his YouTube presence, where he shares insights and lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. In addition, he has taken on the role of an angel investor, helping budding entrepreneurs by offering both financial backing and mentorship.
“I want to help entrepreneurs avoid the same struggles I faced,” Kassan explained. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons about the importance of finding fulfillment beyond financial success, and he is now passionate about guiding others through their own journeys.
Jake Kassan: The Entrepreneur Behind MVMT Watches
Jake Kassan is best known for founding MVMT Watches, a brand he built from the ground up before selling it to the Movado Group for $100 million. Despite the success of MVMT, Kassan’s journey includes other ventures like Glow Threads, a glow-in-the-dark apparel company, and Nitelife Designs, an e-commerce business.
Kassan is also a college dropout, having left Santa Barbara City College to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. His career is marked by bold innovation, but it also highlights the emotional complexities that come with financial success.
Lessons Learned: Beyond Wealth
Jake Kassan’s journey serves as a reminder that success doesn’t always lead to happiness. While wealth can open doors, it doesn’t necessarily provide meaning or fulfillment. Through his struggles with anxiety and depression, Kassan learned that finding true contentment requires more than just financial achievement. His focus now lies in helping others achieve success while maintaining a sense of purpose and balance in their lives.
Jake Kassan’s story shows that even self-made millionaires can face emotional challenges despite their financial success. By sharing his experience, he hopes to inspire others to focus on building a meaningful life, not just a wealthy one. As he continues to mentor and invest in new entrepreneurs, his journey underscores the importance of finding fulfillment beyond the material.
