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Ex-Google Engineer Leaves $300,000 Job for Digital-Nomad Creator Life

He says a breakup pushed him to drop FIRE goals for a creator path funded by savings.

Overview

  • Tang joined Google in December 2021 in New York, working on front-end B2B products in the ads organization and earning a promotion after roughly two years.
  • After a May 2024 breakup and mounting depression, he took a 12-week leave beginning February 2025 and resigned in May 2025.
  • He started his post-Google travels in Tokyo and is now moving through Asia while documenting the transition on social media.
  • He reports making up to $326,000 in total compensation at Google and previously pursued FIRE, targeting $5 million by age 40 before abandoning that goal.
  • His current income from digital products and coaching is variable, cushioned by savings, and he says his parents now support the change after initial hesitation.