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Rich people are miserable

02/20/2009

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No they aren’t.   It is a popular notion to proclaim that money makes people unhappy, but I’m pretty sure money usually has the opposite effect.  Ever had an ice cream cone?  Ever owned an iphone?  Ever stayed in a nice hotel?  Well, money buys all of these things.

I laughed out loud last night when I heard a comedian ask if anyone’s ever frowned while riding on a wave-runner.  It’s impossible.  And, wave-runners…. they cost money.

So why do we like to say that money makes people unhappy?  Three reasons I think.

1.  We are jealous of people that have more financial power than us, so we comfort ourselves by advertising those people as “less happy” or even “wrong”. 

 ”Have you seen Ricks new M3?” 

 ”Gosh, you know how many starving children you could feed with that much money?”

2.  Greed does makes people unhappy, and greedy people tend to be wealthy.  Greed causes people to confuse the temporary happiness of money with other deeper needs like having purpose.  

3.  People can be and are happy without money.  Just like single people can be happy without sex,  or people on diets can be happy without fries, or deaf people can be happy without music.  

So, go get more money!  And do good with it.  Have fun with it.  In the meantime, be happy without it.  

(Oh and if the happiness found in money isn’t enough, try generosity.  It’s an even better buzz.)

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  • http://www.singwritelaughplay.wordpress.com dee dee

    i love it… very nice, my friend

  • aaron

    my boss says, “money makes people more of what they already are”.

    i like your post also. however, i do believe it is very difficult to obtain a lot of money and not become greedy. that is the conundrum. especially when you have “earned” it.

  • http://trippcrosby.com admin

    It does make you more of what you are. And, it is very difficult to have a lot and not be greedy (but not impossible). Point 1 + Point 2 = be the person you want to be before you obtain more money. As far as “conundrum” goes, I wouldn’t know how to use that word properly.

  • Hot, Buttery and Saucy

    Do you think rich people are more easily distracted?

  • http://trippcrosby.com admin

    yes.

  • matt

    i believe we overcome greed through generosity, through giving, not just of money, but of ourselves. well said tripp, plus you get extra points for referencing daniel tosh.