zero shock
In the career of any successful trader/private equity investor, there comes a moment when the amount of money risked on single trades starts to far exceed what individuals outside of the financial industry generally handle on a year to year basis. When said trader/investor first crosses this threshold, he stands at risk of suffering from 'zero shock', as the number of zeros in the checks he writes may be more money than his father earned in a year, or in a lifetime.
Tommy wrote his first $1,000,000 check last week, to participate in a series B financing. He got a touch of zero shock as he signed the line and tore the check free. "This is the life we chose", he muttered, passing the check onwards.