Simons was hustling for money, but it wasn’t simply to pay off his debts. He hungered for true wealth. Simons liked to buy nice things, but he wasn’t extravagant. Nor did he feel pressure from Barbara, who still sometimes wore items of clothing from her high school days. Other motivations seemed to be driving Simons. Friends and others suspected he wanted to have some kind of impact on the world. Simons saw how wealth can grant independence and influence.
