inspired by general american life and other baller threads in car talk, we all idolize people who have great wealth with all the nice things they put in their 5 car garages, etc and to me, it really does seem like the great life to be sought after. but like most things, it probably isn't as good as we think it to be.

maybe some of you know rich people personally or have heard stories. do you think being wealthy is as sweet as it seems or what's your opinion in general? this isn't a case of sour grapes, but rather just trying to understand what it's like to be in shoes that I never will be.

 

wealth... how horrible!!!

 

Most people that are wealthy work all of the time to accumulate more wealth.

That's not my bag.

I'd rather have it handed to me.

:0

 

Depends what you want. All of the wealthy people I know are VERY involved in their work life. They are extremely busy, and are constantly challenged. They all do have time for their families as well, and have some of the healthiest relationships I've seen.

I know a few very wealthy people with a net worth of at the very least, seven figures. But their money is a product of their passion, not the source of it.

So that is what I define as wealth, and yes, it's worth it. But if I just had copious amounts of money, and was sitting around without a real passion, that would be just as draining and boring as going to work and doing a standard job.

Just do what you're passionate about and you won't even think about the Jones' and how many cars they have or how big their house is. Because, it won't matter.

 

Inheritance FTW

(im not so lucky)

<--- works ass off for car...

 

Money is just money. You can be happy with a little or unhappy with a lot. But "passion" and pride in your work is a wonderful thing. Think about it. If you don't believe in what you do for 40-80 hours per week, then you're just doing things for money =

Pride in a job well done =

Money for doing something you love =

 

You have to figure that being rich in this society usually mean more than just money. If the money was made traditionally, through hard work, it means the person is most likely an accomplished individual. He is probably respected in his community. Now, if I were that person, I'd feel pretty good about myself knowing that I've done well with my life and have made my parents proud. The money part just happens to be the result of the hard process to be the best person I can be. Obviously, this only covers the traditional wealth process, so don't get all pedantic about heirs and overnight successes.

Also, having money really does solve a few issues that most people have in their life, like paying the mortgage. Some may say that money brings on more problems, but that may be because of how the individual changed due to the money. He might be flaunting it or unwisely spending it. If the individual remained the same as before, these issues might not arise. Being humble is the keyword.

 

Tell you what: Give me about 8 million bucks and conduct a study on me and I will provide you with the answer to your questions.

 

I'm related to or know a number of millionaires. Some are the happiest people I know and some are the most miserable people I know. The ones that are trying to use their money to make themselves enjoy life are the least happy, it seems. Money is being used to compensate for a lack of something or someone, in their case.

I've found that the ones that work hard (or smart, if you prefer) but otherwise take time off to just take it easy, enjoy family and friends, and just be "real" are a lot happier. The happiest ones I know have nice things (really nice things!) but they aren't hung up on them. They value money but they don't worship it.

 

I have expensive hobbies. I like skiing, I like car racing, I like motorcycles, I like photography, I like sailing. I cannot do those things as often as I'd like to because I have a 8-5 M-F job and limited funds. For me, wealth would fuel my passions, rather than be the end result of them. I suppose if I was MBA inclined I could do a business involving one of those things, and could perhaps make some wealth off of it. But I don't want to sell ski gear, I want to ski. I don't want to manage a race team, I want to drive. I don't want to shoot weddings, I want to spend weeks in national parks for my own mental health.