I worked for 16 years for a very rich family as a Flight Engineer and mechanic on their Boeing 727. From what I saw is that having more money than you can spend didn't make them any happier than me who had the job working for them.

I think it depends on your background. From what I've seen, most of the THF came from various levels of hard times, and most everyone has worked really hard to earn what they have. As long as you stay grounded, and remember where you came from (don't blow money) you'll be happy. I would keep moving, but I would get a bigger ranch, and get to go on hunts and fishing trips I could never afford right now. I would still turn a wrench, and weld when ever I wanted. I've got an old Ford pickup to fix up, and would probably get a few more to work on.

I think the answer is yes, if you came from nothing, or not much. If you've always been in a wealthy family, you don't know any different. Guy that was in my high school class, only knew millionaire parents, he wasn't worth a damn. Probably still isn't.

Hell yeah it will!

It wont make you happy but it will make it lot easier to be happy!

First we have to define happy.

Although being rich would take away any financial stress, I do not believe that money will buy you happiness. You may think so at first, but happiness doesn’t come from money.

Oh yes it does.

Nope. A rarely play the mega millions or powerball, always tell the kids it will just ruin our lives.

I secretly joke with the wife what she would do with her half, because I can’t be tied down married with a 100 million.

I'd like to find out.

I'd take my chances,couldn't be any worse than being poor.

I'm happy right flat in the middle so I'm sure I'd still be happy up top.

I am rich god has given me eternal life

I’m happy now. I’d probably be happy with more money. I was happy when I had less money. Happiness isn’t about money. Plenty of miserable and depressed wealthy/rich people out there.

Interesting topic. I know 3 families that are multi millionaires. One squeaks when he walks and pinches pennies out his azz. Very frugal and will rake anyone he can to help his agenda, not so much into helping anyone else. Inherited money, didn't have to do anything.

Another is self made and travels a bunch, buys cars etc living the good life but seems to know how to spend and still live well and take care of his family.

3rd one goes to our church. They own multiple properties, ranches, houses, all in different states ect. Big in oil and gas and consider themselves "retired". Every weekend it's pray for our companies blah blah blah. Prayer is amazing I guess as they wear God out asking for more, imo.

All 3 have one thing in common. MORE MONEY, MORE MONEY AND MORE MONEY. I'm like 7 Up never had, never will. Not sure how I would do with wealth, in all honesty. From some of the ones I personally know, it sucks to be them.

Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes.

Living a joy filled life and being content with what you have isn't based on how much money you have.

You can be rich and miserable or rich and content.

You can be poor and miserable or poor and content.

The person who has it figured out has learned to be content in whatever situation they find themselves in.


I don't find my meaning in material things but in my faith and my family.

Yes, there are things I would like to have but they are not my top priorities.

My Faith
My Marriage
My Kids

Then my work and hobbies.

If you keep them in that order you'll find you can be happy, content and find joy in whatever circumstances you find yourself.

Winner, winner chicken dinner.

I'd rather try to be rich, then settle for being poor.

If i had a choice to be poor and happy, or rich and happy i would take rich and happy. Or if i had a choice to be poor and unhappy, or rich and unhappy I would take the latter.

I honestly don't know if it would make me happy and I'll probably die wondering. However, I feel pretty confident it wouldn't make me unhappy.

What about poor and happy vs rich and unhappy?

True happiness is only found in Christ. As C.S. Lewis puts it:
"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

"I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11

"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his lifed will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8: 34-38

But I wouldn't mind being materially rich too

Great post, agree 100%.

My first "job" was playing professional baseball. Never made it to big leagues (AAA was it for me), but several of my teammates did. Some of the most miserable people I have ever known had lots of money.

Simply put, too much money won’t necessarily make you happy, but too little money will certainly make you unhappy.

This is easy. Having been poor i know what happens when life happens, and you have no money. At lease if I'm rich I can handle whatever comes my way without having to stress..... am I right?

I can not possibly see how unlimited money could have prevented or eased the hardships and losses in my life. It wouldn't turn back the clock or buy me one more day.

Therfore, riches would not make me happier.

However, If I had more, I could do more for other people. Now that would give me pleasure.