Unless you were living under a rock this past week, you probably heard or participated in the 1.6 billion dollar power ball. It was all over the news, social media, billboards etc. If you're reading this it's too late: the power ball winners have been determined, so considering a person is more likely to get struck by lightning than to win the lottery, I'll assume you did not win.
But let's assume you did win: all 1.6 billion of it. You would be considered among the 2325 people that are recognized as billionaires. You would be categorized with people such as George Lucas, J.K. Rowling and even El Chapo. But what would you do with all that money? I know what I would do: probably buy a private island with the best possible wi-fi so I can just watch Netflix for the rest of my life. I think that would make me content with life. So this comes down to the big question: Does money buy happiness?
I conducted a poll on Twitter in which out of 39 people, 54% said yes, money does buy happiness. But I was not satisfied with 39 people so I had to do my own thoughts and research on whether or not money is the key to achieve a state of eternal pleasure. Rappers are usually talking about how miserable they were when they were broke or bragging about how great life is now that they are making more money in a year than most people see in a lifetime. And celebrities are always given a lot of publicity and attention simply for being rich and recognized. Both groups are usually depicted as happy whether they are going to award shows, talk shows or just partying every night because they can.
But it is important to remember, this is just what the media shows us, that rich and famous people are always intoxicated with blessings and poor people are always in pain. We do not truly know how a person feels internally because obviously we physically can not be another person. A person may mask their emotions and seem happy when deep down they are struggling. This is why a lot of people with money choose to abuse drugs and alcohol because it is what aids them in their states of depression. On the other hand, people who choose a low paying job because they enjoy it or because it gives them more time with their family shows that for them money is not what makes them happy.
At the end of the day, money can do a lot of things for a person. It can get them material objects as well as intangible pleasures (theme park rides, going to a concert, etc.). It is the reason the working class gets up in the morning. It is the reason the homeless do not have homes and why the rich have fancy cars. But happiness itself is just an emotion. There is no monetary value of happiness and it is very possible that a homeless person can personally experience more happiness in their life than someone with 1.6 billion dollars. Sure, you can buy something that will make you happy but you can't just pull up to the drive-thru and say "one order of happiness" and expect them to have any idea of which menu item would satisfy you the most.
Money is a tool which enables people to obtain things that would make them happy, but to some there are priceless objects, people, events, memories; a whole plethora of things that they value more than money. So does money buy happiness? No, not generally for everyone, but it can if that is what makes you happy.
