Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, rekindled online controversy on Wednesday by endorsing the long-held notion that having money does not ensure happiness.
“Whoever said’money can’t buy happiness’ truly knew what they were talking about,” Musk wrote. The CEO of SpaceX and Tesla’s message immediately gained notice, with many people viewing it as a unique look into his personal hardships in spite of his enormous wealth.
Within hours, the comment received over 33 million views and 245,000 likes, sparking a debate on whether or not financial security actually correlates to wellbeing.
Reactions in Nigeria included parallels to the 2021 song It Is What It Is by Afrobeat musician Adekunle Gold, which featured the lyrics “Money no dey bring happiness oh / Na when I get money I realise oh.” Similar to Musk’s essay, the song conveys the idea that having money does not guarantee happiness.
On the internet, opinions were fiercely divided. “Very true, money doesn’t buy happiness, but it makes misery a lot more comfortable!” wrote a user who agreed with Musk. Some disagreed, emphasizing the psychological effects of poverty. “Being broke while watching your mates win will buy you depression, envy, and sleepless nights for free,” was a common response.
From a position of tremendous affluence, several questioned Musk’s perspective; one commenter joked, “Only $1m will make my smile for 20 years straight.” Faith-based responses also emerged, such as the belief that “Jesus gives true happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction but money answers all things.”
The argument highlights a well-known disagreement on whether happiness is found in material comfort, personal fulfillment, or something else entirely.
