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Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life Paperback – May 4, 2021

by Bill Perkins (Author)

6,507 ratings

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A common-sense guide to living rich . . . instead of dying rich

Imagine if by the time you died, you did everything you were told to. You worked hard, saved your money, and looked forward to financial freedom when you retired.

The only thing you wasted along the way was . . . your life.

Die with Zero presents a startling new and provocative philosophy as well as practical guide on how to get the most out of your money—and out of your life. It’s intended for those who place lifelong memorable experiences far ahead of simply making and accumulating money for one’s so-called “golden years.”

In short, Bill Perkins wants to rescue you from over-saving and under-living. Regardless of your age, Die with Zero will teach you Perkins’s plan for optimizing your life, stage by stage, so you’re fully engaged and enjoying what you’ve worked and saved for.

You’ll discover how to maximize your lifetime memorable moments with “time-bucketing,” how to convert your earnings into priceless memories by following your “net worth curve,” and how to navigate decisions about whether to invest in, or delay, a meaningful adventure with your “fulfillment curve” and “personal interest rate.”

Using his own life experiences as well as the inspiring stories and cautionary tales of others—and drawing on eye-opening insights about time, money, and happiness from psychological science and behavioral finance—Perkins makes a timely, convincing, and contrarian case for living large.

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[T]he ideas contained within are worth pondering for a future that may eventually include a return to a somewhat normal financial life….So why is this book by Bill Perkins…worth your time? Because it gets to the heart of two extremely important issues that you may be thinking about during these strange times: why you save and how you live….It’s an intriguing idea.” — The New York Times

“He’s not offering a steady plan to save for the future while still enjoying your life; he’s offering ways to be more present now, so you don’t look back on would’ves, could’ves, and should’ves later in life.” — SUCCESS Magazine

"If you're wondering what the secret sauce is to living your life to the fullest at every stage without running your resources dry, then crack open this practical, timely book.” — Barbara Corcoran, Shark on Shark Tank, Founder of The Corcoran Group

“Bill Perkins' Die with Zero opens up a completely different avenue of thinking to realize that your life can be maximized through memorable experiences. Why wait? Being present is a priority. This book provides an amazing blueprint to living your life while using your resources correctly!" — Kevin Hart, Award-Winning Comedian and Actor

"Bill Perkins' Die With Zero teaches us how to trade off money for something of real value — life's moments of pure joy, whose memories are our ultimate treasure." — Laurence Kotlikoff, Professor of Economics, Boston University, best-selling author of Get What's Yours

"I really believe in this philosophy. You should read it and see all the different methods and philosophies and ways to figure this out in your own life.” — James Altucher, American hedge-fund manager, best-selling author, podcaster and entrepreneur

"This book brilliantly gives one a roadmap for living life over planning for death, for making a difference while you're here to see that difference become real, and for generating priceless memory dividends with friends and family which far exceeds the value of any portfolio. Read it and reap a richer, fuller and more exciting life." — W. Randall Jones, Managing Director, Patriarch Partners, LLC and author of The Richest Man in Town

"In Die with Zero, Perkins presents a life-altering argument that we really need to start focusing on living our richest lives now, rather than waiting for our so-called golden years. I wholeheartedly agree. Read this book, change your thinking, and wake up to accumulating experiences now before it's too late." — David Bach, New York Times best-selling author, including The Automatic Millionaire and The LatteFactor

About the Author

Called the “Last Cowboy” of hedge funds by the Wall Street Journal, Bill Perkins is considered one of the most successful energy traders in history. He’s reported to have generated more than $1 billion for his previous firm during a five-year period.

After studying electrical engineering at the University of Iowa, Perkins trained on Wall Street and later moved to Houston, Texas, where he made a fortune as an energy trader.

At the age of 51, Perkins’s professional life includes work as a hedge fund manager with more than $120 million in assets, Hollywood film producer, high-stakes tournament poker player, and the resident “Indiana Jones” for several charities.

Perkins manages this via smartphone on his yacht in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while traveling the world with close friends and family.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2021
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0358567092
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0358567097
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.6 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Budgeting & Money Management (Books)
- #11 in Happiness Self-Help
- #15 in Motivational Management & Leadership

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Bill Perkins

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Called the "Last Cowboy" of hedge funds by the Wall Street Journal, Bill Perkins is considered one of the most successful energy traders in history. He's reported to have generated more than $1 billion for his previous firm during a five year period. After studying electrical engineering at the University of Iowa, Bill trained on Wall Street and later moved to Houston, TX where he made a fortune as an energy trader.

Now at age 51, Bill's professional life includes work as a hedge fund manager with more than $120 million in assets, Hollywood film producer, high stakes tournament poker player, and the resident "Indiana Jones" for several charities.

Bill manages this via smartphone on his yacht in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and while traveling the world with close friends and family.

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Customers find the book thought-provoking and easy to understand, with complex concepts presented in a clear manner. They appreciate its focus on spending money on experiences rather than saving excessively, and one customer describes it as a transformative read. The book receives mixed feedback regarding its age range, with some finding it great at any age while others warn it's dangerous for most people. While the physical condition of the book is good, some customers find it repetitive.

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Thought provoking Readability Ease of reading Value for money Sturdiness Age range Recompetition

197 customers mention "Thought provoking"185 positive12 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, appreciating its worthwhile perspective and compelling concept.

"...The overarching concept itself makes a LOT of sense, and really generated a lot of thoughts as to whether or not my priorities are in the right place..." Read more

"...Thank Bill for this insightful message of dying with zero. I will tell you though how I found this book...." Read more

"...However, it is valuable in the sense that it provides a different perspective on retirement savings and made me think more about my future." Read more

"...argues that the number of memories you create is a far better indicator of a life well-lived...." Read more

134 customers mention "Readability"117 positive17 negative

Customers find the book readable and entertaining, describing it as a quick and worthwhile read.

"I think this is a great little book. It was a short read, but was packed with a lot of great information...." Read more

"Great short read and different mindset on spending your money...." Read more

"Wonderful! Life is indeed not about accumulating wealth...." Read more

"Excellent book! Everyone entering retirement or in the planning stage of retirement should read this book! Changed our lives!..." Read more

35 customers mention "Ease of reading"27 positive8 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand and read, with complex concepts presented in a way that's simple to apply.

"...To the point and very clear. As a financial planner, this book is now shelved as that one book that should be revisited at times for life." Read more

"...Overall, it’s a quick, easy, and motivational read—not too long, but packed with impactful ideas!" Read more

"...doable and 2. enjoyable is so critical. Just the first 2-3 chapters would be sufficient to drive the point home...." Read more

"Very good advice and written very well, entertaining and informative! Easy to understand and read, of course following through is always hard...." Read more

31 customers mention "Value for money"28 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's approach to money management, particularly its advice on saving and spending, and how it helps achieve maximum life fulfillment.

"Great short read and different mindset on spending your money...." Read more

"...Enjoy your life, use your money, give it to your kids while you are alive...." Read more

"...The book emphasizes that the true value of money lies in its ability to create memories, connect with others, and bring joy to ourselves and the..." Read more

"...One key distinction is the emphasis on spending in "Die with Zero."..." Read more

7 customers mention "Sturdiness"7 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the book's sturdiness, noting it arrives in great condition and comes with a great case.

"Bill Perkins lays out a great case to get the most out of your life by spending time and money on experiences when you can enjoy them...." Read more

"Arrived in good condition." Read more

"An excellent read, this book makes a great case for being more intentional in our decisions of how to balance the 3 key resources - Time, Money and..." Read more

"Gave as a gift, came on time and in great condition." Read more

13 customers mention "Age range"6 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's age range, with some finding it good for any age, while others find it very discouraging for the elderly and potentially dangerous for most people.

"...In reality, this idea is impractical and down-right dangerous given that it’s impossible to predict the timing of one’s demise...." Read more

"...Goal oriented young people would best benefit from the knowledge in this book. Older individuals will question leaving all their assets in a will." Read more

"...It is so......ambivalent to real life, it's borderline dangerous for most people...." Read more

"Very insightful book. Breaking convention while still young and healthy definitely gives one more chances to succeed and live the best life they..." Read more

18 customers mention "Recompetition"0 positive18 negative

Customers find the book repetitive.

"I found the material to be very repetitive, same thing revolved chapter after chapter. Disappointing read and purchase." Read more

"...At some points it was very repetitive and almost made me quit reading, but I powered through." Read more

"...At times it felt the points were stretched out and repetitive to the point I felt myself losing interest several times...." Read more

"...There so much repetition in the book" Read more

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Live Life
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2025
Verified Purchase

This book captures all the things you are thinking about when it comes to Life and money. I think the title does a disservice to the book because the goal is to Live life to the fullest and die with as few as regrets as possible. And if you don’t have any money left it is ok. I have read it twice and given it to my five college friends and others. It is a a must read Also it shows /approves that after a lifetime of accumulating it is time to spend some money before it is too late. Mostly on making Memories

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Chris LU
As described
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2025
Verified Purchase
Book arrived as described and in acceptable time

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Kelevilin Kimathi
Die with Zero
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2025
Verified Purchase
A book that challenges the logic of working too long to accumulate wealth that you may not be able to enjoy in old age due to say health issues. He recommends spending on favourite activities when you have energy and health.if you plan to give to your children or charity don't wait until you are dead do it now. Literally at end die with Zero.

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Earl W. Damron
So glad I picked this one up
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2025
Verified Purchase
I think this is a great little book. It was a short read, but was packed with a lot of great information. The overarching concept itself makes a LOT of sense, and really generated a lot of thoughts as to whether or not my priorities are in the right place. It also addresses some of the elephants in the room...what about an inheritance for the kids, what about your favorite charity, etc. All these topics and more were addressed in a very thoughtful and common sense way.

I have already recommended this book to a few friends. I would recommend it to anyone thinking about making the most of their time remaining on this earth, even if you think you have a long way to go!

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2 people found this helpful

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Avid Reader
Dangerous retirement advice, but makes you think about your future!
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Die With Zero contains a controversial and thought-provoking concept, which is to plan your life so that you purposely spend all of your wealth by the time you die. To maximize a person’s life, the author (Bill Perkins - NOT a financial advisor) recommends that most people should begin spending down on their retirement savings between 45 and 60 years of age (depending on one’s estimated life expectancy) so that they will reach zero net worth by the time they pass away. In theory, this plan is a great idea. In reality, this idea is impractical and down-right dangerous given that it’s impossible to predict the timing of one’s demise.

I strongly disagree with many of the points in this book, starting with the notion that any money earned during a person’s career is “wasted” to the extent that the person dies before spending it. In other words, the author is saying that money has no value unless it is spent during one’s lifetime. In my opinion, this is wrong for several reasons. As just one example, having savings in the bank gives many folks the feeling of financial peace and security. If you don’t believe such a feeling is valuable, just ask anyone who has ever lost sleep worrying over unpaid bills or a lack of retirement savings.

With that said, I found other points in the book that are worthwhile, including:
1) everyone should be mindful of how they spend their time and money (i.e., consider whether the daily Starbucks routine is a better choice than saving for front row concert tickets or a summer vacation and regardless how you answer that question, it’s empowering to know you have a choice),
2) a fulfilling life has more to do with amassing memorable experiences than increasing the size of one’s bank account,
3) plan to spend some money on experiences while you can still physically participate (don’t wait til retirement to buy a ski boat b/c most 70 year olds can't water ski),
4) retirement planning should include the concept that spending varies during your golden years (most retirees are more active/spend more $$$ in early retirement and less as their health declines), and
5) deferred gratification (i.e., saving for an emergency or retirement) is wise, but denied gratification is not smart (i.e., work until you die without stopping to smell the flowers along the way).

Overall, I completely disagree agree with the main message in this book. Personally, I’d rather die with a pile of unspent money than take a chance of outliving my savings and end up eating dog food for my remaining days on earth. For financial planning advice, I definitely don’t recommend this book. However, it is valuable in the sense that it provides a different perspective on retirement savings and made me think more about my future.

Read more

Avid Reader

Dangerous retirement advice, but makes you think about your future!

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
Die With Zero contains a controversial and thought-provoking concept, which is to plan your life so that you purposely spend all of your wealth by the time you die. To maximize a person’s life, the author (Bill Perkins - NOT a financial advisor) recommends that most people should begin spending down on their retirement savings between 45 and 60 years of age (depending on one’s estimated life expectancy) so that they will reach zero net worth by the time they pass away. In theory, this plan is a great idea. In reality, this idea is impractical and down-right dangerous given that it’s impossible to predict the timing of one’s demise.

I strongly disagree with many of the points in this book, starting with the notion that any money earned during a person’s career is “wasted” to the extent that the person dies before spending it. In other words, the author is saying that money has no value unless it is spent during one’s lifetime. In my opinion, this is wrong for several reasons. As just one example, having savings in the bank gives many folks the feeling of financial peace and security. If you don’t believe such a feeling is valuable, just ask anyone who has ever lost sleep worrying over unpaid bills or a lack of retirement savings.

With that said, I found other points in the book that are worthwhile, including:
1) everyone should be mindful of how they spend their time and money (i.e., consider whether the daily Starbucks routine is a better choice than saving for front row concert tickets or a summer vacation and regardless how you answer that question, it’s empowering to know you have a choice),
2) a fulfilling life has more to do with amassing memorable experiences than increasing the size of one’s bank account,
3) plan to spend some money on experiences while you can still physically participate (don’t wait til retirement to buy a ski boat b/c most 70 year olds can't water ski),
4) retirement planning should include the concept that spending varies during your golden years (most retirees are more active/spend more $$$ in early retirement and less as their health declines), and
5) deferred gratification (i.e., saving for an emergency or retirement) is wise, but denied gratification is not smart (i.e., work until you die without stopping to smell the flowers along the way).

Overall, I completely disagree agree with the main message in this book. Personally, I’d rather die with a pile of unspent money than take a chance of outliving my savings and end up eating dog food for my remaining days on earth. For financial planning advice, I definitely don’t recommend this book. However, it is valuable in the sense that it provides a different perspective on retirement savings and made me think more about my future.

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208 people found this helpful

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New H1N1
A new perspective for changing your life
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2025
Verified Purchase
I should have read this book at younger age! Gaining more money is not the goal but living a memorable life is.

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Viewtopia
Alternative financial thinking
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
Verified Purchase
In America, the thought is often that whoever ends up with the most assets wins. But this book turns that truism on its head—and for the better. Rather than keeping score with money, the author convincingly argues that the number of memories you create is a far better indicator of a life well-lived. So why not spend all of your hard-earned wealth to travel, explore hobbies, throw parties, or find other leisure activities that feed your soul? The author’s engineering background comes into play as he offers sound guidance on how and when to deploy your assets for maximum contentedness, as well as how to overcome reservations about "decumulating" your net worth. And while he admits that dying with zero is practically impossible, his case for attempting to do so makes it worth the try.

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2 people found this helpful

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Curtis Hall
Upside Down
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2025
Verified Purchase
The ideas shared in this book has turned the status quo upside down. Thank Bill for this insightful message of dying with zero.

I will tell you though how I found this book. I have been wondering for years how does someone dies leaving hundreds and also millions in their bank account to the bank and the government. I saw this as a waste. No one, no charity they could have these monies to? Crazy!

So I told myself will not die leaving millions behind to the ‘atmosphere’. And I asked myself how can I die with zero? With thank question I remembered Jim Rohn saying whatever you want to become study it and so I decided to find a book on the topic.

Thanks again Bill for this treasure.

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3 people found this helpful

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daniel de vries
WHAT A TRULY GREAT READ
Reviewed in Australia on January 19, 2025
Verified Purchase

Had this book recommended by a friend, and as someone who is already 'semi-retired' at 51 I figured it's still good to see what else I can learn. I have financial freedom & have been a regular world traveller for most of my life - I saw my grandparents work hard for so long & start to travel when older, which already instilled in me the understanding that it's important to travel as much as possible when younger.

This book gave me a couple of awesome extra bits of information for not only myself & husband to continue enjoying our lives, but also for how to help other people 'see the light' in whatever way is feasible for them. It's time for us to give back to others even emotionally to show them what's possible & I can now use parts of this book to assist.

Have already recommended it to multiple people!

Thanks Bill for such a great read - here's to living life deliberately!

Read more

daniel de vries

WHAT A TRULY GREAT READ

Reviewed in Australia on January 19, 2025
Had this book recommended by a friend, and as someone who is already 'semi-retired' at 51 I figured it's still good to see what else I can learn. I have financial freedom & have been a regular world traveller for most of my life - I saw my grandparents work hard for so long & start to travel when older, which already instilled in me the understanding that it's important to travel as much as possible when younger.

This book gave me a couple of awesome extra bits of information for not only myself & husband to continue enjoying our lives, but also for how to help other people 'see the light' in whatever way is feasible for them. It's time for us to give back to others even emotionally to show them what's possible & I can now use parts of this book to assist.

Have already recommended it to multiple people!

Thanks Bill for such a great read - here's to living life deliberately!

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Victor SanVicente
Excelente!
Reviewed in Mexico on January 3, 2025
Verified Purchase
Muy buen libro!
Muy revelador. En verdad una lectura para abrir los ojos y el entendimiento sobre que hacer con los recursos que una persona ha acumulado en su vida.
Rompe paradigmas y hace pensar en el futuro y en los seres queridos.
Lo recomiendo ampliamente.

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tamano
Nothing is new but outright and striking
Reviewed in Japan on September 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
We eventually die someday, but we do not like thinking of our death, let alone being elderly and needing care. Nothing is new for me, but every single sentence is outright and striking. The older, the richer, but less exciting and happy. This book is a helpful mirror that shows what our life ultimately means.

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FB
Good book
Reviewed in Brazil on November 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
Easy reading. Nice topic, but way too much for us in the rat race. No can do

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Cliente Amazon
Must read
Reviewed in Spain on October 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
Wonderful book and one I’m recommending to all my friends and family members. It will change your opinion about golden age

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Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life Paperback – May 4, 2021

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A Life-Changing Perspective on "Living" Life

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Dangerous retirement advice, but makes you think about your future!

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5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A TRULY GREAT READ

WHAT A TRULY GREAT READ

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente!

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is new but outright and striking

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read

WHAT A TRULY GREAT READ

Excelente!

Nothing is new but outright and striking

Good book

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