Ever wonder if the fabulously wealthy are happy
 

What do they do every day?

If you're a very wealthy rock star from the past, what do you do when you wake up in the morning. Seriously, I'm sure after a while the sex and drugs must get old. And if you didn't raise a family, aren't into volunteering/philanthropy, what do they do all day.

How do you stay sane without a purpose? Would they have a purpose? I'm not sure why, but I wonder about these things from time to time...

They worry about keeping their money.

more money more problems
 

The members of Pink Floyd once commissioned a documentary about themselves thinking it would focus on the music and the lifestyle, when the film was finished they were shocked to find that 80% of their time was spent in meetings with accountants and management, and only 20% of their 'working life' was devoted to music and touring etc.
They never released the film.

pretty sure they don't sit around wondering what poor folks do..
and when sex's stop being fun & is old..
time for the OD..

Rika

I don't currently work.

I take care of my daughter, garden, paint, take care of housework, work on my home.

I study Buddhism, and that has made my life a richer place. Much to say about that, but I won't. I am very different person today than when I joined Pelican, that I will say.

I'm very happy.














But I, too, wonder if the fabulously wealthy are happy.

Money doesn't make a person happy, but the stuff you can buy with it sure does.

Racing solves all of that quandry. If I had $200 million sitting in the bank, I would go racing every day. It would never get old. Ever.

In my experiences, I've found its mostly those who don't have it who believe that to be true.

+1

If your an angry person, buying toys just makes you angry person with a nicer car. Ask me how I know. I had 2 Porsche in my garage a couple years back, and noticed that I not any happier. In fact, I was angry that my toys were not bringing me the joy I had anticipated. I'm NOT saying that one can't really, really enjoy having toys. Their fun. But that best not be the only thing in your life, because your not going to have a very rich existance.....

Are the poor happy?

Depends on how they came by the money.

The self made ones are relentless in their pursuit of more.

I know several people that practice "the religion of money" and they are devout.

Start a trashy reality television show?

http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...ck-of-love.jpghttp://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u.../rockoflov.jpg
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u..._of_love_2.jpg

Some are, some aren't.

Just today: Link = http://www.livescience.com/culture/090515-happiness-age.html

Americans grow happier as they age, surveys find. And a new Pew Research Center survey shows the tendency is holding up as the economy tanks.

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats, and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

And even before the economy got nasty, seniors were found to be generally happier than Baby Boomers. Some of that owes to the American Dream being lived by past generations, while Boomers work two jobs and watch the dream wither.

In times like this, it's clear how age can have its advantages. While not all seniors are weathering the recession well, for many the impact is much less severe than it is for younger people.

Why? Many people 65 and older retired and downsized their lifestyles before the economy imploded, according to Pew analysts. Most aren't raising kids and many are not so worried about being laid off. Loss of income can be, of course, a source of stress and displeasure. (While money doesn't buy happiness, a study in February showed cash can help, especially when people use it to do stuff instead of buy things.)

If you're thinking that Republicans are happy just because they perhaps make more money, that does not seem to be the case. The study that found Republicans to be happier than Democrats also showed that it held true even after adjusting for income.

It's those age 50-64 who've "seen their nest eggs shrink the most and their anxieties about retirement swell the most," the Pew survey found. It also finds that younger adults (ages 18-49) "have taken the worst lumps in the job market but remain relatively upbeat about their financial future."

Not everyone in any category is blissful, of course. Other research has shown that happiness in old age depends largely on attitude factors such as optimism and coping strategies. Add financial planning to the list.

In the new Pew telephone survey, taken in March and April of 2,969 adults, here's how many respondents in each age group said they had cut back on spending in the past year:

* 18-49: 68 percent
* 50-64: 59 percent
* 65+: 36 percent.

And is the recession causing stress in your family?

* 18-49: 52 percent
* 50-64: 58 percent
* 65+: 38 percent.

Now for the good news: A study in January found that key groups of people in the United States have grown happier over the past few decades, while other have become less so. The result: Happiness inequality has decreased since the 1970s. Americans are becoming more similar to each other on the happiness scale.

I'm not angry, and I get happier and happier the more toys I get.

i would be a great billionaire. i dont think i would change much except the hotels i stay at may improve. i would buy a new, very modest home on a huge lot and do my own gardening and lawn work.

i think the only source of my happiness would to not have to worry about the stupid scchit. i have a broken window, that is agony. my home is falling apart, and i have a "wish list" that is growing to make the house way better. it would be comfortable to move out into another home and fix and rent the existing. that said, i would help others with my cash.....i hate worrying about things breaking...rich people dont..(i imagine)

I was like that when I was 25 years old, too. Most are.

You hit the nail right on the head...there is no free lunch in the world.

I get up. make breakfast, have 2 cups of coffee and either write or well look for spoons.

Money does not make you happy, it can help a bit though by making some things easier.

Many people think if only I had so much money they would be happy. Then they find themselves still faced with themselves and that is sometimes a rude awakening.

I agree Tabs, I've got challenges just like everyone else does; the only difference is most people have a real hard time feeling sorry for me now?

I've known some very weathly people and they're prolly the hardest working SOB's you can imagine, even amongst all that wealth? One dude told me, "Rob, you can only buy a steak so thick and lay on a beach so long." Another dude told me that money was just a way of keeping score.

So to answer your Q?; I'd agree that it makes no difference if you're happy or not, based on your wealth. Happiness is the secret to life though!

Write poetry, write songs, sketch, bang ho's, surf the net(these are my four main activities whilst recovering from my injuries) go on vacations to exotic spots. Shoot. Lots.

What else does a man need- honestly?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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."

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

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.

ding ding ding......winner!

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.