Ever wonder if the fabulously wealthy are happy

[Dottore]

Money can't buy you happiness.

But money can buy you the ability to fill your time in the manner that is (and with the things that are) most conducive to your personal happiness.

[MikeSid]

There's a comedian who has a joke along the lines of this...."They say money can't buy happiness. Well. Money can by a Waverunner. You ever see an unhappy person on a Waverunner?"

Thing is...everybody's waverunner is different. And for some, the "waverunner" ain't a possession or toy, it's time....with kids...with old dad who's getting on in years...with wife traveling, etc.

I want enough money to give me more time and not so much that I lose time worrying about keeping my money.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Money can't buy you happiness.

But money can buy you the ability to fill your time in the manner that is (and with the things that are) most conducive to your personal happiness.

Right on the mark. The one commodity that you can't get more of is time. You get your time back, it is all yours to do with as you please.

[on2wheels52]

I think the old line is 'I'd rather be rich and happy than poor and unhappy'.
From what I've heard of human history most Americans are quite wealthy. They may have trouble realizing it.
Jim

[the]

A lot of people have more time than they know what to do with.

[Rick Lee]

The one super rich guy I know pretty well is always working so hard, that he has very little time to enjoy his money. He could have retired very comfortably many years ago. Sure, he lives and travels as nicely as it gets. But he has no real leisure time. He used to travel to Japan twice a month! He once told me he was tired every minute of the day, from the time he woke up in the morning until he went to sleep again. If he retired, it would be a fulltime job for him just to keep track of all the folks working for him, taking care of all the stuff we normally take care ourselves. He's obviously not in it for the money anymore. But man, what a weird life that guy leads.

[Dottore]

There a German proverb that's a bit difficult to translate, but it nails this issue:

"Geld macht nicht gluecklich, aber es beruhigt ungemein".

Roughly translated: "Money won't make you happy, but you'll be much more relaxed if you have it."

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm fairly certain they're happier than the fabulously poor.

[Christien]

Money can buy time and what you do with that time is what can make you happy. So in that respect, yes, money can buy you happiness, if you know how to spend it right.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'm fairly certain they're happier than the fabulously poor.

ding ding ding......winner!

[aigel]

Usually wealthy people start some "projects" to make some more money. People may start cattle ranching, make salad dressing, build an electric sports car - stuff you can only do because you really don't have to make money.

The other thing I see with entrepreneurs that made it big is that they just re-invest their leftover cash into other start up companies as angel investors or venture capitalists. This is what I'd do. You stay engaged in the technology and the business and just go to board meetings. Everyone will be very nice to you and there is a chance to hit it big without having to do any of the work. Still enough time to go racing, hunting, fishing, diving, hiking, panning for gold, traveling ...

George

[Zeke]

You could ask Jay Leno. I don't know if he fits your term "fabulously" wealthy, but he isn't hurtin'.

He spends his time doing what a lot of us would do.

I know if I had fabulous money, I wouldn't lift a finger. I'd travel a bit only on private or chartered planes and build for the fun of it. Nothing novel there, plenty have gone before me.

I'd have a personal chef and valet plus the best accountant, lawyer and just about everything in between.

If I were younger, I might have pursued a Richard Branson type of life with some dare devil stuff. These days, I'd be happy to rent a few great cars with some quality instruction. I know at least once I'd like to drive an older formula car and a some other iconic cars.

As I said, Leno is a good role model for me if the lottery came my way. Bill Gates is not.

I sorta have a philosophy that one can treat disease or look for cures. One can't treat or cure poeple very well; they will always be what they are. I wouldn't waste much time on or with people.

[Sonic dB]

I heard that he has not spent one dime of his Tonight Show earnings...all these years.

[KarlCarrera]

Seems like I always wanted/needed more money. $1.48/hr to comfortable. Sounds funny but I thought about this thread. Is it money, the options money provides, or (gasp) being comfortable and happy. Guess I'm comfortable and happy. Certainly no Jay (and I am envious). I would love to have a little more comfort ($), but I can probably due with-out the stress of trying to keep from giving it to someone else. I have worked way to hard for that.

Guess I'm just simple and happy, a few bucks in the bank, cold beer in the fridge, Crown, CC and Patron in the cabinet, steaks on the grill, springtime in the Rockies, an excellent, supporting, and undemanding wife and MY car in the garage.

For me, at this moment, (I know it can change) I am fabulously wealthy, and fortunate.

Karl
88 Targa

[ramonesfreak]

assuming i had my health, i cant imagine not being happy if i had enough money since the act of making money is the only thing in this life that makes me absolutely miserable.

if i removed that variable, i would be overwhelmingly happy to indulge my interests in guitars, art, old cars, motorcycles, traveling, reading, relaxing etc... there are not enough hours in a lifetime to do all the things i would attempt to do.

money would buy me the time to do what i long to do every second of the day but cant because of my lame job that exhausts me and uses most of my time

[herr_oberst]

We all hear lots of stories about miserable Lottery winners.

Self made rich folks appear to have the balance needed, the newly rich can't immediately adapt to the necessary perspective. (but I would love to give it a shot, so wish me luck playing five bucks in Wednesday night's Powerball!)

mo

[Rick Lee]

When I see lotto winners profiled or interviewed on tv, I think there's not a single thing they're doing that I'd do if I won. For one, I'd not be giving anyone interviews. I'd change my phone number and not ever respond to anything that I didn't request. Anything I gave away, I'd do so anonymously. I'd have a lawyer or a CPA collect the winnings and I'd live on an allowance. I can't believe how ridiculous some of these winners are.

[techweenie]

Abraham Maslow said it all with his 'Hierarchy of need." There's something to strive for at any level. The top of the ladder is "self actualization" which you can see with many wealthy people: they turn toward self improvement/self enlightenment.

On the other hand, the wealthiest guy I know personally just buys rare Ferraris.

[gprsh924]

I'm happiest when I am doing some of the following things: driving cool cars, boating, traveling, golfing, snow skiing, water skiing. All of those things are very expensive. The more money I have, the more money I will be able to devote to those pursuits.

[KaptKaos]

Money is nice to have and it sucks when you don't have any. It also brings on bigger problems. The stress of large investments, and the impact of them going south on you can be catastrophic. The more zeros, the more stress, the more people your decisions impact.

Also, anecdotal evidence seems to show that the children of really rich folks have lot of issues too, particularly with substances. It takes time to make and support that income. Time not spent raising the kids.