Flutterwave co-founder Iyinoluwa Aboyeji sparks debate with 'investing is for lazy people' remark
Flutterwave co-founder Iyinoluwa Aboyeji has reignited the long-standing debate between investing and entrepreneurship with a provocative statement: 'Investing is for lazy people.' The comment, made on Nigerian X (formerly Twitter), drew immediate attention and criticism, but Aboyeji's supporters say his point is often misunderstood.
Aboyeji's argument: Elon Musk built wealth through companies, not passive investing
Aboyeji's core argument is that the world's richest individuals, such as Elon Musk, did not amass their fortunes by passively investing in stocks or mutual funds. Instead, they created and scaled companies that generated massive value. Musk's wealth, for example, is tied to his roles at Tesla and SpaceX, where he spent years building, leading, and growing businesses. 'I have not seen Elon Musk build wealth through investing,' Aboyeji stated. From this perspective, entrepreneurship is the primary engine of extraordinary wealth, not traditional investing.
Dr Ola Brown counters: Investing exists on a spectrum, Musk is an active investor
Investor and entrepreneur Dr Ola Brown pushed back against Aboyeji's simplification. She explained that investing is not monolithic. 'What people refer to as 'investing' actually exists on a spectrum, from money in savings accounts/low-interest government treasuries (what Iyin is probably referring to as lazy) to more active, value-add investing,' Brown said. She argued that Elon Musk himself can be viewed as an excellent private equity investor, as he did not found several of his most famous companies but invested early, took significant ownership, and actively shaped their direction. 'Musk wasn't simply an entrepreneur or a passive investor; he was both,' Brown noted.
The spectrum of investing: Passive vs. active vs. building a business
The debate highlights three distinct paths to wealth. Passive investing involves putting money into assets like index funds or government securities and letting them grow with minimal involvement. Building a business requires creating products, hiring teams, managing operations, and taking on significant personal risk. Active investing sits in between: venture capitalists, angel investors, and private equity players often mentor founders, open doors, shape strategy, and help run companies. They invest capital but also create value through hands-on involvement.
What finance books say: Wealth is built through patience and putting money to work
The discussion echoes lessons from classic personal finance books. In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel writes that wealth is built quietly through patience, consistency, and long-term thinking. One of his key observations is: 'Wealth is what you don't see.' Similarly, 'The Richest Man in Babylon' by George S. Clason advises saving a portion of income and putting it to productive use. Neither book argues everyone should become an entrepreneur; instead, both emphasise making money work rather than letting it sit idle.
Who is right? The answer depends on the definition of investing
If investing means parking money and hoping it grows while you focus elsewhere, Aboyeji's description as 'for lazy people' reflects that capital, not labour, does the work. If investing includes actively helping businesses grow and creating value, then Brown's argument shows that entrepreneurship and investing are not opposites but points on the same spectrum. For most people, the lesson is not to choose one path over the other. Very few will build the next Tesla, and very few will become wealthy by leaving money in a savings account. The common thread is putting money to work instead of letting it stand still.
