Hey there, friends! 😊 We've all heard those classic sayings, right? "Money can buy you a bed, but not sleep." "Money can buy you a watch, but not time." And gosh, "Money can buy you food, but not the desire to eat." For so many of us, these ring true. But then, on the flip side, you'll hear folks chime in with, "If money can't buy you happiness, then you just don't know how to spend it!" Or even better, "Money can't buy you happiness, but poverty can't buy you anything!" So, what's the real deal here? Does chasing that big paycheck truly lead to more happiness? Are the wealthiest people on the planet also the happiest? Let's dive in and unpack all of this, because I've got some thoughts!
The Fisherman and the Businessman: A Timeless Tale 🎣
There's a super famous story that really makes you think about this whole money-happiness conundrum. Picture this: A fisherman is chilling on a gorgeous beach, rod in the sand, just soaking up the sun and the fresh sea air. Along comes a sharp-suited businessman who, naturally, can't believe his eyes. He tells the fisherman he's totally missing out on catching more fish by just lounging around. He urges him to work harder!
The fisherman, cool as a cucumber, asks, "What should I do?" The businessman, all puffed up, suggests getting a big fishing net. "You can only catch one fish at a time with that rod, but a net? Oh, buddy, you'll haul in tons!"
"And what would I do with all those fish?" the fisherman asks.
"Sell 'em, obviously! Make some serious cash!" replies the businessman.
"Then what?"
"Buy a boat! More nets! Catch even more fish! Make even more money!" The businessman is getting a little exasperated by now, but the fisherman just keeps asking, "And then what?"
The businessman, at this point, is practically pulling his hair out. "Don't you get it?! You could hire employees, build an empire! You'd be rolling in dough!"
"But what's the end game?" the fisherman persists.
Finally, the businessman throws his hands up. "You could do whatever you want! Eat the best food, party it up, and relax on the beach whenever you feel like it! Spend the rest of your life just chilling on the beach!"
The fisherman simply smiles, gestures around him, and says, "Take a look, friend. What do you think I'm doing right now?"
Now, does that story hit you like it hits me? If the businessman hadn't mentioned relaxing on the beach, the fisherman wouldn't have had that perfect comeback. What if the businessman had said, "You could drink the most expensive wine in the world"? The fisherman might have just shrugged and said, "I don't even drink." Or if it was about fancy clothes, "Nah, I'm happy in my T-shirt." Even a five-star hotel wouldn't faze him: "Why be stuck in a fancy hotel room when true peace is out here in nature, with the fresh air, the vast sea, and trees? And let me tell you, fish I caught and cooked myself tastes way better than anything a five-star chef could whip up!" You get the drift, right?
This story really holds up, doesn't it? We see it all around us: so many folks who aren't wearing designer clothes, aren't dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, and certainly aren't pulling in millions, yet they seem genuinely happy and content. But on the flip side, we also know plenty of millionaires and billionaires who are, frankly, miserable. And that brings me to some real-world examples.
When Riches Don't Equal Bliss: The Billionaire Blues 💸
Let's talk about Elon Musk for a sec. The guy who's been at the top of the richest list, right? Back in July 2017, he tweeted, "The reality is great highs, terrible lows, and unrelenting stress. Don't think people want to hear about the last two." That's the honest truth, isn't it? You might soar high for a bit, but there's always the risk of a huge fall, and the stress? It's relentless. But who wants to hear about that?
Last year, the Wall Street Journal even reported that Elon takes microdoses of ketamine to combat depression. He later downplayed it, saying depression is overdiagnosed in America and that in his circle, taking ketamine occasionally seems to work better. Still, it paints a picture, doesn't it?
The struggles of the ultra-wealthy often get overlooked in favor of their public image of success. It's a stark reminder that money isn't a cure-all for personal or emotional challenges.
And then there's his daughter. She's 20 now, but two years ago, right when she turned 18, she filed a court petition saying she wanted no relationship with her father. If money could truly buy every happiness, and Elon has more than enough, why is their father-daughter relationship so strained? His biographer revealed last year that Elon was genuinely hurt by this. Why wouldn't his daughter want to spend time with the richest man in the world?
Let's not forget his romantic life. Elon and his first wife, Justine Wilson, divorced in 2008. He married English actress Talulah Riley, only for them to divorce two years later. Then came his relationship with Canadian musician Grimes, which also ended after three years. Plus, there have been other affairs that just didn't pan out. An Insider report from last year said he's single now. Why couldn't these women find lasting happiness with the richest man on Earth?
| Billionaire | Marital Status |
|---|---|
| Elon Musk | Multiple divorces/separations |
| Bernard Arnault | Divorced |
| Jeff Bezos | Divorced |
| Larry Ellison | Divorced |
| Bill Gates | Divorced |
| Sergey Brin | Divorced |
You might think Elon's an isolated case, but nope, he's not alone in the billionaire struggle. Bernard Arnault, the second richest person in the world? Divorced. Jeff Bezos, the third richest? Also divorced. In fact, among the top 10 richest people in the world, six of them have been divorced. Forbes magazine even looked into American billionaires and found that a staggering 49% of their marriages end in divorce. That's almost one in two! Now, sure, the overall divorce rate in America is pretty high, around 42%, but billionaires have all the money in the world. So why the high rate?
This really brings us back to that simple truth: money can buy you a house, but it definitely can't buy you a family or guarantee a happy relationship.
And it's not just marriages. Even among brothers, rich families fight like cats and dogs over money. They might have millions already, but it's never enough. Take the tragic case of Ponty Chadha, the liquor baron and owner of Wave Cinemas, and his brother. They literally killed each other in a mutual firing! Or remember the Ambani brothers' notorious feud? Their court cases dragged on for years, with public mudslinging. It got so bad that in 2009, India's then-Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, had to step in and tell them their corporate dispute had become a "national entertainment" and to please sort it out privately, as it was impacting the markets!
The Hidden Toll of Fame and Fortune 🎭
On social media and in our everyday lives, so many of us look up to these billionaires and celebrities, seeing them as role models, aspiring to be just like them. But three years ago, when Elon Musk was asked how one could become like him, his answer was pretty eye-opening:
"They shouldn't wanna be. I think it sounds better than it is. I'm not sure I wanna be me."
He literally said, "Why would anyone want to be like me? I'm not sure I wanna be me." The lives of many rich people and celebrities are, unfortunately, often pretty miserable. There was an article from 2021 that really stuck with me, titled: "I'm a therapist to the super-rich - they are as miserable as Succession make out." The therapist revealed that most of the billionaires he'd worked with struggled with deep shame, guilt, and fear. They had major trust issues, constantly suspecting everyone, which turned their lives into a stressful, miserable mess.
We've even seen celebrities, who seemingly had it all, succumb to depression and even suicide. Remember Robin Williams, the incredibly talented Hollywood actor and stand-up comedian? He made millions laugh, but behind that jolly face, he was battling deep sorrows and depression. And Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, at the absolute peak of his career, died by suicide at just 27. These folks didn't lack money, yet their wealth couldn't buy them happiness.
- Kapil Sharma: The famous Indian comedian revealed in March last year that he suffered from depression and had suicidal tendencies. He shared that this period taught him to appreciate the smallest things in life.
- Deepika Padukone: One of India's most successful actresses, she bravely spoke out about her struggle with depression and has become a prominent advocate for mental health awareness.
Beyond outright depression, you see so many people whose actions scream dissatisfaction. Think about film actors whose movies rake in billions, yet in their relentless pursuit of more, they do surrogate ads for tobacco products. Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar – the list goes on. Can you even fathom the kind of greed that makes them sacrifice their social responsibility and conscience for a few more million? If billions aren't enough, will a few more million from tobacco ads truly bring them satisfaction? I seriously doubt it.
Beyond the Hustle: Redefining "Enough" ✨
That's why, my friends, I genuinely believe it's crucial to prioritize your happiness and satisfaction over the relentless pursuit of money. Unfortunately, too many folks get blinded by greed, convinced that happiness will only come once they hit a certain wealth milestone. But that's just not true.
I've actually gone into this in detail in my Time Management course, which honestly, is just as much a happiness course! It teaches you step-by-step how to achieve your goals, maximize productivity, and maximize satisfaction all at once. We cover four chapters:
- Happiness: Figuring out the life you truly want to lead and the goals that will bring you genuine joy.
- Time Management Techniques: Scientifically proven methods to actually make a difference in how you manage your time.
- My Personal Strategies: The tactics I use in my own life to boost efficiency up to tenfold in many areas.
- Procrastination & Distractions: How to tackle social media, TV, and other distractions that keep you from your goals.
Thousands have already joined, and the reviews speak for themselves! I just completely remade it from scratch, in Hindi with English subtitles, with a new, interactive format. If you bought it before, it's a free update for you! If not, now's your chance. Use the coupon code NEW46 to snag 46% off for the first 1,000 sign-ups. The link's in the description or you can scan the QR code!
Money as a Foundation, Not the Destination 🏡
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: "Well, poor people are miserable and depressed too! They have family disputes and commit suicide!" And you're absolutely right! I'm not denying that at all. I'm not saying poor people are inherently happier. My point is that the idea that rich people are more satisfied and happier than poor people is just incorrect.
If someone is genuinely struggling with poverty, we should absolutely help them. Romanticizing poverty, like those social media posts of a child studying under a street light, is misguided. We shouldn't feel inspired by such images; we should feel sad and motivated to ensure every child has an equal starting line, a decent standard of living. As a country, we should all be working towards that.
I truly believe money is like a base. You need a certain level of it to achieve a comfortable living standard – a decent home, medical insurance for your family, good education for your kids, and not having to stress about basic groceries. I even acknowledge this in my course: to a certain extent, happiness *is* tied to having a base level of money. So, how much is "enough"? That exact amount is different for everyone, but the money required to maximize your satisfaction and happiness isn't as high as you might think. I break this down in the course, but the takeaway is clear:
📋 Quick Summary
The Real Value of Life: What the Dying Regret 💔
"On their deathbeds, not a single person regretted not earning more money." Let that sink in. This single statement, from an Australian nurse's diary, really sums up the true worth of money.
Her name is Bronnie Ware, and she worked in palliative care, with people who had only a short time left to live due to terminal illnesses. She asked them about their biggest regrets, and her observations turned into a powerful book: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. Here's what she found:
- Courage to Live Authentically: People wished they'd had the guts to live a life true to themselves, not the one others expected. They regretted pleasing others instead of living on their own terms.
- Not Working So Hard: This one hit home for many. They regretted being too focused on work, career, and money, missing out on precious time with family.
- Expressing Feelings: They wished they'd had the courage to truly express their feelings.
- Staying in Touch with Friends: Many regretted losing touch with friends along the way.
- Allowing Themselves Happiness: They regretted not letting themselves be happier with what they had, not actively pursuing their own joy.
So, when you're on your deathbed, do you really think you'll regret not buying that Mercedes, that luxury watch, or those expensive clothes? Probably not. This is why we need to do some serious self-reflection right now, while we're here.
Hinduism and Jainism emphasize the principle of non-possessiveness. Don't try to own everything. And what about Gautam Buddha's message of the Middle Way? "Do not renounce the world, live here, enjoy, but do not immerse yourself totally in things. Freedom lies in minimalism." The more money you earn, the more stuff you own, the more maintenance you'll need. So many people become slaves to their lifestyle in this endless rat race for more and more money.
That thing you buy today with so much excitement? Tomorrow, it'll be old news. You'll lose interest and just want something else. It becomes a perpetual cycle of buying and consuming, but you never find lasting happiness. Real happiness is hidden elsewhere: doing what you truly enjoy, having a sense of purpose, helping others, and sharing what you have.
- In Hinduism, Daan (donation) is highly valued.
- In Islam, Zakat, or charitable giving, is one of the five pillars.
- Sikhism has the concept of Dasvandh, where one-tenth of one's income should be donated.
These motivational gurus who constantly flash Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani in front of you, telling you you'll be the next billionaire, are missing the point. They make it sound like being a scientist, teacher, doctor, or architect isn't lucrative, and everyone should just chase money. But honestly, people like Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani might actually be a little jealous of average folks who are more satisfied and genuinely happier than them!
The "Time vs. Money" Joke 🤣
This isn't just a joke; there's a kernel of truth to it:
- "There was a point in life when I had to choose between time and money. I thought, I can't beat Mukesh Ambani in terms of money. He has a bit of an upper hand there. What will life be like if Mukesh is better than me? So I decided to change the game. I chose time. Let's compete now, Mukesh. Let's play my game. Now, on Monday mornings, I listen to Radiohead for 4 hours. And I just wonder, about what Mukesh would be doing then. He'd be in meetings on Monday mornings. Loser. I won."
That little skit isn't just funny; it hits on something real. The truth is, while money provides a necessary foundation for life, it's not the ultimate source of happiness or fulfillment. True joy comes from within, from purpose, relationships, and the freedom to live life on your own terms.
I hope this video, which was a little different from my usual style, resonated with you. If it did, please let me know in the comments below! And feel free to suggest more topics you'd like me to dive into. 😊