There seems to be an archetype in silicon valley today of people viewing companies basically just as convenient extensions of themselves rather than distinct legal entities with separate interests.
Why would a WeWork object to paying Neumann's rent? WeWork is bascially Neumann anyway! Why would Tesla object to buying Musk's other companies? Tesla is basically Musk anyway! Why wouldn't levandowski just employ his own company to supply components he was procuring for Google? Why wouldn't Shkreli pay his hedge fund investors back with cash from one of his other companies?
It's amazing how often 'innovation' and business success turns into corrupt self-enrichment. Unfortunately justice tends to only come once someone suitably senior gets screwed. With Levandowski that was Google, with Shkreli that was the government. I suspect with WeWork the law suits will come the second the investment value drops - investors won't do a thing until they start losing money, rather than just making less money than they otherwise would have.
Why would a WeWork object to paying Neumann's rent? WeWork is bascially Neumann anyway! Why would Tesla object to buying Musk's other companies? Tesla is basically Musk anyway! Why wouldn't levandowski just employ his own company to supply components he was procuring for Google? Why wouldn't Shkreli pay his hedge fund investors back with cash from one of his other companies?
It's amazing how often 'innovation' and business success turns into corrupt self-enrichment. Unfortunately justice tends to only come once someone suitably senior gets screwed. With Levandowski that was Google, with Shkreli that was the government. I suspect with WeWork the law suits will come the second the investment value drops - investors won't do a thing until they start losing money, rather than just making less money than they otherwise would have.