Despite amassing immense wealth, why does he choose to live an extremely simple life (eating instant noodles, residing in an ordinary apartment)? What values underpin this choice?

Hello friend! That's a really great question. Many people are curious about Takashi Okozawa (aka the legendary "B.N.F.") and his seemingly "odd" behavior. Earning far more money than an ordinary person could in several lifetimes, yet living like a recent college graduate – it is indeed a bit puzzling.

Actually, this isn't simply about being "frugal" in the usual sense. It reflects a very unique, even extreme, set of values. Let me break it down in plain talk to see if it makes sense.

1. Treating "making money" itself as the ultimate pleasure, not spending it.

This is probably the core point.

Think of it this way: Do you like playing video games? Many people play games to level up, get rare gear, or climb the leaderboards. The thrill and sense of achievement in the process are the sources of joy. If you finally acquire that "Ultra-Rare Sword," the greatest joy comes from "Wow, I finally got it!" rather than rushing to sell it for cash to have a big meal.

For Takashi Okozawa, the stock market is his massive online game, and money is his score.

His source of gratification: Not what he can buy with money, but seeing the numbers in his account fluctuate and grow through his analysis and actions. Every successful trade, every accurate prediction, feels like defeating an incredibly tough boss in the game.
The meaning of consumption: Spending money for him is like trading his top-tier gear and gold in the game for a pile of useless potions. This lowers his "game score" and weakens his capital to keep "fighting." So he avoids it.

He seeks mental victory and satisfaction; material enjoyment only interferes with this pure form of pleasure.

2. Minimalist life = Maximum focus

As a top day trader, his work requires intense, uninterrupted concentration. Even a small distraction can lead to massive losses.

Think about it. If he were to:

Live in a mansion: He'd have to deal with decorating, maintenance, hiring staff, security, and countless other chores.
Drive luxury cars: He'd face maintenance, insurance, traffic jams, parking, and worries about scratches.
Social engagements constantly: Attending dinners, meeting celebrities – these consume huge amounts of time and energy.

To us, these things might seem like the "rewards" of success. But for him, they are downright distractions. They occupy his mind, preventing him from dedicating 100% focus to analyzing charts and data.

Therefore, he chooses:

An ordinary apartment: Small, easy to manage, and simplified.
Instant noodles/fast food: No time wasted wondering "what to eat today," maximizing time saved to ensure all energy goes towards the "main task."

His lifestyle is highly optimized to serve his core goal – trading. Like an Olympic athlete strictly controlling diet and routine for the competition, everything is geared towards ultimate victory.

3. Deeply ingrained habits & seeing money as a "tool"

Takashi Okozawa wasn't born wealthy. His starting capital was only 1.6 million yen (around 100,000 RMB), saved from his salary. Frugality was essential for survival during his initial wealth accumulation. Once this habit became ingrained, it was hard to change, even as his wealth exploded.

More importantly, his view of money is different from most people's.

Most people see money as: A medium to improve their lives and purchase goods/services.
He sees money as: "Capital" – ammunition for battle in the stock market arena.

Spending 1 million yen on a luxury watch, in his eyes, is like voluntarily discarding part of his ammo mid-battle. It's a pointless weakening. His money has one primary use: Re-investment to make more money (increase his score).

4. An unconventional sense of "security"

This sounds contradictory: someone battling in one of the riskiest markets seeking security?

Absolutely. Precisely because he deeply understands the market's uncertainty and huge risks, he strives to minimize risks in his personal life.

Low material desires = Low risk exposure: His living expenses are minimal. This means even if he suffers a major setback in the market and loses 90% of his assets, his life remains unaffected. He can still eat his instant noodles and live in his apartment. This psychological "safety net" allows him to be more decisive in trades, willing to bet big, because he has no fear of things "he can't afford to lose."

Summarizing his values

His core values can be summarized like this:

Process over outcome: He enjoys the process of "winning," not "what he can do after winning."
Mind over matter: The intellectual challenge and satisfaction of success far surpass material enjoyment.
Utilitarianism above all: Every aspect of his lifestyle serves his primary goal (trading). Anything that doesn't serve this goal – or worse, interferes with it – is discarded.
Money is capital: Money is a tool for creating more capital, not the endpoint for consumption.

In short, he's an obsessive "fanatic" and "truth seeker" who focuses all his life's energy on a single point. His existence isn't "life" as we commonly understand it; it's more like an ascetic practice. While we might see his life as "harsh," he likely sees it as the purest, freest, and most joyful way possible.