lunachick

That's a tricky question, actually. If they were simply looking for gorgeous, sexy, young trophy brides (assuming they are male), and the gorgeous, young trophy bride turned out to be a gold digger - then yes, I guess so.

So, sometimes, both are so completely shallow in their choices of a marriage partner - one for money, the other for the ego of having a "trophy" wife - that there are really no surprises to the marriage ending in tears for one or the other. It was just a question of who will get burned first - the money side, or the trophy side?

Sakpo

An extreme example:

Q: There's a man with a wife he loves and three adorable kids who he also loves and is happy to have. Kill his family and kick him in the nuts. Give him $20, 000, 000 USD. Do you expect him to be happy?

A: No, damned IRS!
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I know fairly poor people (by first world standards) who are nonetheless happy, and I'm sure you can have plenty of money, be quite rich, and still be horribly depressed. Hell, depression can result from physiological problems (chemical imbalances and such) that have nothing to do with finances. You can be rich, but still be socially isolated, still feel your life lacks meaning... Quite frankly, if I could afford whatever consumer item I wanted, whenever I wanted it, I doubt obtaining consumer items would be that thrilling.

It's not that I pity poor depressed millionaires, because I really don't. But I'm sure millionaires can be horribly depressed, when a family member or friend dies, when they get divorced, when they feel guilty about their wealth but know they'll give it up, when they realize they aren't useful or interesting people, when they're just totally alienated... There are all sorts of reasons a rich person could still be very unhappy, and a poor person very happy. It's not at all unheard of for teenagers from wealthy homes to kill themselves.

A lot of rich people, in my experience, really have no idea how well off/lucky they are. A lot of them take everything they have, that we don't, for granted, and find all sorts of things to be mopey about. It's quite pathetic (I happened to unknowingly make friends with some kids from millionaire families, so I think I've had a decent little look into the lives of the rich, what with talking to them, being in their homes, etc). Their parents put them in a kickass private high school, with all sorts of oppurtunities I could only dream of, where they were safe, with good facilities, great instruction, etc... and they complain, because they think they're the only class who ever feel under the gun to perform, so to speak. No, someone from a public school who hopes to compete with them feels no pressure, because who expects anything of the peons? Not that we think of your type as peons... at least not you. (heh, sidetracked... anyway, a couple of them really did turn out to be good people, despite my little characterization)
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Oh, I have the 12" Powerbook G4 (scholarship money, plus I used a straw buyer with an educational discount from a university store). It rocks, but it doesn't make for everlasting happiness (I doubt 5 inches more of it would do the trick either...that's something else). It tends to get a bit overheated too.

Defiant Heretic

While money by itself wouldn't provide happiness, it would at least allow me to upgrade my computer, which would help the things that do bring me happiness (e.g. programming).

Novowels

If money can't buy happiness, I guess I'll have to rent it.

Doctor X

My favorite response I give to:

What would all of the money in the world do for you if you did not have your health?

is:

You want to be poor and sick?

--J.D.

DBT

Quote;
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Well, two have been the victims of gold diggers. Is failing to spot a gold digger something to blame them for?
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No,but if they are still millionares they hav'nt been badly mauled,
my only point was that money can free your life from a whole lot of financial pressure,mortgage,children,health expenses,retrenchment,etc,a truckload off your back.
That can go a long way towards ones happiness.

Opera Nut

Money can buy you freedom. And it can buy you experiences. Freedom from a lot of worries.

I have also known some rich, pathetically greedy and selfish people. The sad part is that they try to impress people with their things.

Money is also helping me to buy health. I am using part of my inheritance to go to an anti aging doctor and I receive hormones which are helping my mood, outlook, and physical stamina greatly.

Beetle

Money may not buy you happiness, but it can sure make your unhappiness alot more pleasant.

MzNeko

Dang, Beetle, you beat me to it!

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery a lot more comfortable...

Oxidizing Material

<3

Collecting can be so much fun