In life, you need a house and a car. After that, you have a choice.
The real force of Silicon Valley is the mentality, the spirit. There's no reason at all that can't be replicated in Paris.
You can spend your money on art works and sit down and look at them. Or you can use your money to help people.
If you are worried about the risk to your reputation, you don't launch a telecoms firm in an aggressive way.