Let’s be honest, when we talk about building a “Golden Empire,” whether in business, investing, or even in our personal brand, it’s easy to get lost in abstract principles and dry financial models. But sometimes, the most profound strategies for creating something lasting come from unexpected places. I’ve spent years analyzing market trends and legacy-building frameworks, and I often find that the mechanics of engagement, community, and recognition in platforms like video games offer startlingly clear parallels. Take this year’s iteration of NBA 2K’s “The City,” for example. On the surface, it’s a digital basketball playground. But peel back the layers, and it reveals a masterclass in seven key strategies for building enduring wealth and legacy. It’s not just about scoring points; it’s about building a kingdom.

The first strategy is Elevating Individual Excellence. In The City, temporary statues are erected for the current MVPs. This isn’t just a vanity feature; it’s a powerful incentive system. In wealth building, you must first identify and monumentally reward your own “MVP” skills—that unique talent or insight that generates your initial capital. For me, that was deep-dive sector analysis. I made it a point to publicly track and, in a sense, “monumentalize” my successful predictions, creating a track record that attracted early investors. It’s about making your excellence visible and celebrated, even temporarily, to build credibility. The second, closely related strategy is Showcasing Dominant Streaks. Teams in The City take over courts and loudly display winning streaks. This is pure, unadulterated social proof. In finance, a winning streak—be it a series of successful investments, quarter-over-quarter growth, or consistent client returns—needs to be communicated. It dares competitors and attracts allies. I remember after my fund’s third consecutive year of beating the benchmark by over 15%, we didn’t shy away from it; we led with that story. It shifted perceptions and changed the kinds of opportunities that came our way.

This leads directly to the third strategy: Forming Strategic Crews. The new Crews system acts as a clan, allowing you to assemble dozens of like-minded players. No empire was ever built alone. Lasting wealth is almost always a team sport. Your “crew” is your inner circle: trusted advisors, complementary business partners, a mastermind group. I built mine intentionally over a decade, not just with the smartest people, but with those whose values and risk tolerance aligned. This network becomes your most valuable, non-financial asset, providing deal flow, due diligence, and support during inevitable downturns. The fourth strategy is Honoring Heritage While Innovating. The City introduces classic courts from past years each season. This “nod to history” grounds the experience. In legacy building, you must understand the history of your industry, pay respect to the giants whose shoulders you stand on, and then innovate upon that foundation. My investment thesis, for instance, is deeply rooted in the value principles of Benjamin Graham, but it’s executed with modern data analytics tools. Acknowledging your roots provides depth and authenticity that pure novelty lacks.

Fifth, we have Creating a Permanent Hall of Fame. The town square permanently features the names of NBA 2K’s historically exceptional players. This is the cornerstone of legacy. Wealth can be spent, but legacy is etched in stone. Your goal shouldn’t just be to make money, but to contribute something that gets your name—or your brand’s name—carved into the bricks of your industry. This could be a charitable foundation with your name, a transformative business model, or mentoring a generation of successors. For me, it’s about the scholarship fund I set up; that’s my “town square.” It will outlive any single trade I ever made. The sixth strategy is Embracing Seasonal Evolution. New courts arrive every six weeks or so. The environment isn’t static. Similarly, markets and industries evolve in seasons. The wealth-building strategies that worked in the 2010s—like passive index investing—are being challenged. You must be willing to adapt your “court,” to explore new asset classes (like digital assets a few years back, or perhaps AI infrastructure now), and refresh your tactics regularly. Stagnation is the enemy of lasting relevance.

Finally, the seventh and most personal strategy: Knowing Your Role and Appreciating the Game. The text admits, “I’m not good enough to have my gamertag carved into the bricks… but I can still appreciate how awesome it is to see that.” This is profound self-awareness. Not everyone will be a statue-worthy MVP or have a name in the permanent square, and that’s okay. Lasting wealth and legacy are also about appreciating the ecosystem you’re in, learning from those at the top, and finding genuine joy in the process itself—the strategy, the community, the incremental wins. I’ve made peace with the fact that I might not be the next Warren Buffett, but I can build a formidable, respected empire within my sphere of influence and derive immense satisfaction from doing it well.

So, building your Golden Empire isn’t a mysterious alchemy. It’s a deliberate application of these interconnected principles: spotlight your strengths, prove your consistency, build your tribe, respect the past while building the future, etch your contributions into something permanent, adapt relentlessly, and above all, enjoy the journey with clear-eyed self-awareness. From the digital courts of a basketball game to the global financial markets, these are the plays that run the score up and, more importantly, ensure your impact echoes long after the final buzzer sounds.