She's So Money

HOW ACTRESS OLIVIA MUNN LEARNED TO INVEST LIKE A BOSS

- Samantha Simon

$everal times in my life, I thought about investing. But the stock market seemed fickle and intimidating, and I never quite understood it. I considered buying into companies and products instead, but nothing ever felt right.

Then, in 2012, a friend of mine who runs a hedge fund that invests heavily in technology said, “You should look into this company called Uber.” He said a limited number of people— fewer than 45—were invited to take part in the initial round of financing. I figured that if it didn’t work out, I would learn my lesson. But if it did, being an original investor in a company that could revolutionize transportation would be pretty amazing.

Obviously, it was a good gut instinct. I wish I’d invested more in Uber, but it’s hard to know when something will be successful. I put even more money into my next investment—a business I didn’t really think made sense but went forward with anyway. It went completely under. I don’t have any regrets, though. It was a learning experience that taught me to ask more questions and to invest only in things I personally get inspired by.