I'm curious to see if the whole money buys happiness thing is true for people in real life. The richest person I know worked at Goldman Sachs and his family owns a multi million dollar real estate company in Florida. He's retired and all he does is come to the gym, read the WSJ and watch TV lol. He has a pot belly but he seems content. I don't know if he's really happy in the "yeah!!!" sense of the word. He does take fancy cruises around the world and he tells me he enjoys that very much.

I'm the richest person I know. I don't have money but 3 people who mean a lot to me are always happy to see me when I come home.

AA

Yes, rich people are happier than poor people. However, they can still have serious issues. Without health, and people to share it with, money means very little. However, if you have health and people that you love and love you, then yes, money will make you happier up to a point. Certain people are driven entirely by money, and I consider them merely insane.

I know a good number of people with money, but hard to tell how happy people are really, you know? I mean, they aren't sitting around crying in soup, lol. They seem happy to me, but how do you measure other people's happiness?

I know that I can compare when I was younger and hadn't made money, and now, when I'm comfortable, and I'd say I was as happy then, too. But that's because I always appreciated what I had, and knew that money and stuff wasn't the end all. (As long as you have food and basics, of course.)

From what I've read, the happiest people are those with the strongest relationships and a belief in a god (doesn't have to be a specific god). I'm an atheist, but I have great relationships and love my family (even my in-laws, lol), so I feel very lucky, even if I had less money.

I hate the rich and not happy stereotype. I think it was just designed to make people feel better. I'm not rich, but I've met some rich people; and none of them were "unhappy".

Sent from K48

Your question reminds me of a childhood friend I had at primary school who was the son of a very famous and successfull composer. He was really down to earth and a nice kid but completly resented being rich. He would get frustrated whenever someone brought up his dad being rich. For example, when I accidently broke his ruler, I innocently just said "Don't worry, you can afford a new one" and he was in a grumpy mood all day.
He wasn't happy, but I don't think it was about being rich it was more about not fitting in with the rest of us. Money doesn't make people happy, people make people happy but obviously if someone were to have both they'd be ecstatic.



Sir Richard Branson

Originally Posted by scottishwarlord

Your question reminds me of a childhood friend I had at primary school who was the son of a very famous and successfull composer. He was really down to earth and a nice kid but completly resented being rich. He would get frustrated whenever someone brought up his dad being rich. For example, when I accidently broke his ruler, I innocently just said "Don't worry, you can afford a new one" and he was in a grumpy mood all day.
He wasn't happy, but I don't think it was about being rich it was more about not fitting in with the rest of us. Money doesn't make people happy, people make people happy but obviously if someone were to have both they'd be ecstatic.

<img src="http://www.ipadforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=11844"/>

Sir Richard Branson

So is he going to let you fly for free on Virgin Galactic - or does he still hold a grudge over the ruler?

AA

If one is not content with what they have, it doesn't matter if they have all the money in the world, they still will not be happy.

Question: if you had $1,000,000 and then were diagnosed with a terminal illness, would you spend every penny to get your health back?

Originally Posted by AdmiralAdama

So is he going to let you fly for free on Virgin Galactic - or does he still hold a grudge over the ruler?

AA

Crap, meant to show someone being rich and happy, not suggesting Branson is my childhood friend haha.

Interesting post guys. Thanks! Makes sense that it's not all about money. Health, relationships and being content are riches themselves as well. Def made me shift my perspective a bit.