Do people who earn big dollars actually have time to spend it all or do they earn it for status?

[jennifer_bloom]

I was watching a TED talks video, a guy who studied at Yale or Stanford, said he met up with his old classmates for lifestyle interviews decades later to see how they were doing and what surprised him is none of his Ivy League classmates who chased money were happy with their 14 hour day jobs. Only one was happy with his job, a guy who quite his finance job to work as a musician. Most of the guys were very depressed because even though they could buy any mansion or car or food they wanted - they had pressure and exhaustion and strain and limited free time. I was influenced by my millionaire cousin to chase the lifestyle of the rich and I have less free time then I did before. I used to listen to music, watch animal videos, read books, attend bible studies, visit restaurants, hang out with friends. Now all I do is work.

[Effably]

Just depends on how big those dollars are. If you earn enough the amount of leisure time goes up, not down.

Trying to make it there by working nonstop? Some people certainly enjoy it. Chasing a goal can be fulfilling. Reality is that none of these people who were unhappy are earning enough to not have to earn money.

[LegendaryDater]

I remember my neighbor was a dermatologist. He made probably 500k a year but worked 8-8 mon through Friday and 8-12 on Saturday. So yeah he didn't have time to enjoy nothing but an occasional vacation from time to time.

[Anonymous]

Depends. Some do it by outsourcing it. Sure they may have to work hard in the beginning to set it up, to establish what they’re trying to do. From there they can hire someone to do what needs to be done to continue making money while working very minimal hours. Usually entrepreneurs. If you go to the old employee producing factory (college) chances are you aren’t going to be happy cause you’ll be working an 8-12 hour job like everyone else, maybe even longer. So no chances are they won’t be happy. There is always an exception that some may be happy.

[mstbooblover]

That's a very good question I asked myself often ! I'm not such a rich person, and sure more money would be welcome, but only being busy making money? No, not worth the while. How many houses can one own and feel really home? How many partners can one satisfy in one day? How much food can one swallow in one day? And so on...

As well being really poor as being very rich degrades the mind. The former ends in misery, the latter loosing completely the notion of life's and money's real value.

[HighValue]

I prefer to have enough money to pay all of my expenses and at least $500 + per month of discretionary/spending money to do whatever I want with. Plus have lots of time off work to enjoy myself. That is one of the main things I like about working in schools. Enough money and tons of vacation time. :)

[pupluv45]

I actually know a couple of people who work 14 hour days in finance and they actually like it. Just because someone spends enormous number of hours at work daily, it does not mean they hate their lives. Because truth is, if they were so sick of it, they would have left their job for something else.

[LiamJHayden]

Some spend more than they earn. Some do it for status. Some do it and save it and invest it and are not conspicuous about how wealthy they actually are.

[jamesgoldman]

They spend it... the real busy ones pay people to help them spend it like personal shoppers and specialists to advocate for them at auctions

[Summeroflove]

This depends on who it is

[TrishaMorgan]

money isn't everything.