What's the deal with 499?

[Stingray]

I might have missed it, but i couldn't find it anywhere. Why are people yelling/crying about 499?
My question is serious: what does it mean?

[Ghost818]

I might have missed it, but i couldn't find it anywhere. Why are people yelling/crying about 499?
My question is serious: what does it mean?
People have dropped their mafia down to 499, because the "new" Thug Life Goal requires you to attack rivals with 500+ mafia in order to complete it. People use this strategy for their own reasons, the main one is to decrease the chances of getting attacked.

[Santa]

People who are doing TL goals need to attack players with 500+ mafia. By dropping down to 499, they are trying to avoid being attacked and robbed by HL players.

[slackerboy]

I am lvl 118, and up until around a week or so ago did not notice the 499 or less that much. In the last few days, the people less that 500 in the rivals list has jumped massively to show 499 or less.

Sometimes have to scroll a few screens to find the 500+ group. I do find with these events I kinda take step back and do not complete missions or att/robs for the week so I can focus on the event itself. Think mostly so I do not lvl up again and have to pay more money for the cash opens :)