There were a lot of things wrong with Broadcom.
First of all, whoever designed a corporate logo that looks vaguely like the company’s stock chart from 1998 to 2002 should either explain his or her reasoning to the public or take a class in inspiring artistry.
Second, at no major fault of its own, Broadcom became the 90s technology bubble’s broadband semiconductor darling only to come crashing down with the rest of the stocks in 2000. At least Broadcom, unlike most technology companies at the time, built chips that products actually use to this day (Nintendo’s Wii and DS systems use Broadcom parts for online connectivity). But the meteoric rise and fall of the company’s stock was pumped by Chief Executive Officer Henry Nicholas III, a youthful, energetic engineer born in Cincinnati, Ohio with an appearance similar to Alan Rickman from his Hans Gruber Die Hard days. Such charisma may be an inspiration to investors and employees while business is good. The company was founded in 1991, and in less than a decade, he found himself valued at over $2 billion.
However, along with the drop in the stock price came a drop in profits. When tested at actually managing a business in trouble, rather than one in a growing marketplace during the technology rush, Nicholas chose to opt out of the public eye before it poked his.
I realize a lot of this sounds kinda bad, but I’m simply applying some context before I give Nicholas credit.
If Nicholas is to be applauded for anything (when I say “applauded”, keep in mind that I don’t actually endorse drug-induced casual sex), it’s for teaching every other executive in history, even Hugh Hefner, how to properly throw a party.
In April, Nicholas voluntarily submitted himself into rehab-for-the-stars, The Betty Ford Center, after he confirmed suspicions that he was an alcoholic. If only it ended there.
The New York Post’s subtly titled “ROCKIN’ THE COKED-OUT ‘ORGY’ CAVE” exposed Nicholas’s life in ways he was likely trying to keep underground. It turns out that many of his employees are suing him for unpaid wages of all things. After reading the article, you’ll wonder why that was their major gripe and had to let the investigators handle the rest of his shenanigans. Some men may have vices, and others, well, they’ll compete with Caligula for the king of crazies.
Henry Nicholas III had the makings of a real-life “Iron Man.”
He was a 6-foot-6 genius billionaire with a chiseled frame, physical endurance and a taste for fast cars and gadgets.
He even had a secret cave….