One year, 41M digits: How Luke Durant found the largest known prime number

> The discovery was the result of almost exactly one year of work and about $2 million of Durant’s own money.

> Durant, who made his money off the boom, said he put his time and money into the project to show people that they aren’t helpless to technology giants and that we can figure out massive problems if we work together.

If I sold absolutely everything I owned, I would not even have close to half of what it Durant invested in his pet project. While I like his intended sentiment, I can't help but notice the irony.

"If I sold absolutely everything I owned"

Quite. I get the point but why not volunteer (to do something) and really show your grit?

Pissing around with M primes and trying to make a point is a bit wank as a stance from a multi-zillionaire.

He isn't helpless (to technology giants and that we can figure out massive problems if we work together.)

... and that's lovely.