Dear Matzav Inbox,
A single, throwaway line from Elon Musk managed to expose a truth many people spend their lives running from.
“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness really knew what they were talking about.”
Cue the sarcasm, the mockery, the eye-rolling. “Cry me a river.” “Try being poor.” “I’d rather be miserable and rich than miserable and broke.” Very clever. Very predictable.
But beneath the snark was something raw and uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why people rushed to drown it out.
Here is a man who has more money than kings ever dreamed of, more access than entire countries, more power than most governments, openly admitting that it didn’t deliver what it promised. Not in a philosophical essay. Not in a self-help book. In one blunt sentence and a sad emoji.
And instead of pausing to listen, the world laughed.
Because if he isn’t happy, the fantasy collapses. If money doesn’t fix the emptiness at the very top, then maybe the problem isn’t “not enough.” Maybe the problem is thinking that having more will finally quiet the noise inside.
We’ve trained ourselves to believe that unhappiness is a budgeting issue. That anxiety is a temporary stage before the next raise. That fulfillment is one deal, one upgrade, one win away. And so when someone who has already crossed every imaginable finish line says, “This isn’t it,” we feel threatened. His honesty interferes with our coping mechanism.
So we mock him. We minimize it. We tell ourselves we’d handle the money better. We’d enjoy it more. We’d be grateful. We’d finally be calm.
But deep down, we know that’s not true.
Money solves problems. Real ones. Painful ones. No one is romanticizing poverty. But meaning, contentment, menuchas hanefesh — those don’t scale with net worth. If anything, they’re often buried under pressure, isolation, and expectations that never stop growing.
The saddest part isn’t that a billionaire admitted he isn’t happy. The saddest part is how desperate we are to pretend he’s wrong.
Because if he’s right, then we may have to confront a far harder question than how to make more money. We may have to ask what we’re actually living for.
And that’s a conversation far more uncomfortable than any sad emoji.
Sincerely,
An observer who thinks the joke is on us
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Thank you, very well said!
It’s true that money can’t buy happiness. But not having money can lead to stress that takes away from happiness as well.
Most of us have been there. The costs of paying a mortgage, tuitions, food, and other necessities is staggering. Plenty of us struggle to make ends meet – never mind being able to save for the future! When an unexpected expense comes along, such as if a car needs repair work, or something in the home breaks and needs to be fixed, or even something as simple as needing a new suit for Shabbos – often, we don’t have the extra few hundred dollars to spare!
We’re not asking to be rich, to get whatever we want. But having extra stress definitely makes it a lot tougher to go out with a smile.
We all believe (hopefully) that Hashem will take care of us, and it will all work out. But most of us are not at the stage where we don’t worry about things, even though we trust in Hashem.
So no, money can’t buy happiness. But lack of money can detract from it.
I think most people agree that money can’t buy happiness. But we think that money helps us avoid misery. Those are two different things.
It may be true up to a point but it does seem that people who get really rich often become miserable BECAUSE of their phenomenal wealth.
Finally a well thought out spot on non controversial letter.
This is an excellent letter. Nothing to add.
Speak for yourself. You are the one who sounds totally jealous.
Also sad is how his statement is being considered by some as if it were just some interesting social event, and as if the Torah has zero input on the matter – when it most certainly does. Ask your LOR.
I’ve been poor and miserable ..and rich and miserable you can’t compare עני חשוב כמת is a real thing I would rather be miserable then dead and I’m speaking from real experience
Money may not buy happiness, but poverty buys nothing.
I don’t think anyone with basic intelligence actually thinks money buys hapiness. What people do know is money is a critical necessity to raise a family and provide for them. Being poor is a tremedous challenge and the people around the poor must do what they can to keep them on their feet.
What’s the point of your letter?
I don’t think what he said was a chidush to anyone. Most people want to become rich for the kovod which he has plenty of.
“Most people want to become rich for the kovod” I am not sure who “most” are?! The people I know want to be able to cover their bills & not have schools, yeshivas, camps, banks and children down their back to keep asking for payment. I certainly don’t need money for kavod. But i need it to pay my bills.
you’re the outlier