Actress Bo Derek as soon as said that whoever said money can’t purchase happiness didn’t know the place to shop. There are people on this world who probably would agree with her. But is that assertion true? Does having extra money actually imply having a greater life? The experiences of some folks who got wealthy certainly say otherwise.
Today’s post was written by: Alexandra Emmert.
Curtis Sharp, the Five Million Dollar Man
Back in 1982, dishwasher Curtis Sharp Jr. won a $5 million lottery jackpot. Thanks to his larger-than-life personality and spending habits, he became known because the Five Million Dollar Man and have become the textbook instance of how money could flip someone’s life around.
Unfortunately, Curtis’ life didn’t flip round within the direction everybody thought it would.
Curtis spent greater than his yearly annuity checks covered, indulging in new homes and costly cars, flashy parties, and beautiful women. He divorced his spouse the year after he won the lottery and married his lover in an enormous wedding.
Five years later, that marriage ended in divorce. Not lengthy after, he ran out of money, which forced him to borrow money from his first wife. Curtis stopped drinking and partying after a drunk-driving incident and have become a minister.
Despite his background, he learned the hard way that money doesn’t purchase happiness, no matter the place you shop.
Jack Whittaker, a Victim of Greed
Andrew ‘Jack’ Whittaker labored himself up from poverty to becoming the proprietor of a West Virginia contracting company. His self-made fortune grew considerably when he won a $113 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas morning in 2002.
A beneficiant man, Jack purchased the woman who sold him the winning ticket a brand new home and car and gave her a considerable money gift. He additionally donated money for constructing church buildings and arrange a charitable foundation.
Unfortunately, Jack’s big win was widely publicized, and requests for favors and money flooded in. People additionally began submitting lawsuits against his firm in a bid to get their hands on his wealth. Large quantities of money were stolen from his car after his behavior of leaving money within the vehicle became known. The pressure led Jack to begin drinking closely and getting into fights. He additionally began providing women money to sleep with him. All this led to his relationship with his spouse deteriorating.
To make issues worse, he kept shopping for issues that he didn’t actually need. He spoiled his granddaughter, Brandi with 4 cars and a big allowance that attracted the incorrect people.
Brandi died of an overdose a year after her boyfriend in a home that Jack was developing. A few years later, Jack’s daughter (Brandi’s mother) died, and his spouse divorced him. Jack blamed his fortunate windfall for ultimately losing the people he loved, in addition to his lottery winnings.
Billy Bob Harrell Jr., More Money More Problems
Billy Bob Harrell, Jr. found himself in monetary difficulties after a failed try to become a minister. But these circumstances modified after he won a $31 million lottery jackpot. He helped household members, needy parishioners, and his native church. However, he kept getting inundated with requests from various people.
Combined with bad investments, the fixed requests for money from friends and strangers took a toll on Billy Bob’s household life. He and his spouse divorced, and household members fell out with every other.
Less than two years after his big win, he dedicated suicide. While some folks think that a fortunate windfall would be the best factor that could ever occur to him, Billy Bob found that’s not always the case.
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Andre Agassi, Disconnected By Wealth
Back within the 1990s and early 2000s, Andre Agassi was one of many brightest stars within the world of tennis. He gained huge wealth and worldwide fame, however he confessed in his 2009 book that he hated his life as a sporting superstar. He revealed that his profession affected his private relationships and left him feeling disconnected from his life.
Andre opened the Andre Agassi College Prep Academy in 2001, which was an indication of issues to come.
After retiring from skilled tennis in 2006, he became concerned in education and philanthropy, saying that he finds this work a lot extra fulfilling than being a tennis star.
Money Vs Happiness
These true-life tales showing that extra money doesn’t automatically imply greater happiness aren’t simply bizarre anomalies. Research and the expertise of professionals all level to the identical basic truth: the richer we become, the much less happy we are.
Purdue University researchers revealed that having extra money than you want to meet your basic needs, repay debt, and purchase small conveniences can result in the desire to pursue greater materials gains, resulting in extra social comparisons. The results of that is decreased well-being.
The Harvard Business Review additionally found that wealth can be isolating. Acquiring possessions that signify a excessive standing could make us want to distance ourselves from others and devalue social connectedness, which additionally results in our sense of well-being deteriorating.
Last however not least, a rise in wealth usually means a rise in working hours. According to the Atlantic, the richest males within the U.S. are the biggest workaholics. They work longer hours than poorer people within the U.S. and wealthy people in different superior countries. The quantity of leisure time they enjoy has reduced greater than that of any different demographic. While work does offer some life satisfaction, it cannot compensate for doing the issues that actually make us happy, such as spending excessive quality time with the people we love and doing the issues we actually enjoy.
There are important classes within the tales and analysis talked about above. While it’s important that we strive to realize our potential within the office and that we deal with our funds responsibly, it’s important that we don’t fall into the trap of thinking that extra money means greater happiness and that we don’t prioritize money over ourselves and our loved ones.
So, the trick is to take advantage of of what you have. Get money savvy, draw up a budget, cancel these subscriptions you by no means use, repay your debts, and develop a wholesome relationship with your finances. You don’t want to win the lottery or get well-known to be happy. In fact, your chances of being happier appear higher if you don’t!