In a move that has sparked widespread debate, Elon Musk, currently the wealthiest individual on the planet, declared on Thursday that financial success is no guarantee of happiness.
The Tesla chief executive shared his thoughts via X, writing: “Whoever said ‘money can’t buy happiness’ really knew what they were talking about.”
The comment has since triggered a worldwide conversation regarding the limitations of wealth in achieving emotional satisfaction.
The post quickly went viral, garnering more than 52.1 million views, about 57,000 reposts and over 363,000 likes, alongside thousands of comments at the time of filing this report.
The statement drew mixed reactions, with users debating the true value of wealth.
While some users agreed with Musk, noting that money does not shield individuals from emotional struggles or personal challenges, others argued that financial security significantly improves quality of life and access to opportunities.
The discussion also resonated strongly in Nigeria, where social media users linked Musk’s comment to Afrobeat star Adekunle Gold’s 2021 hit song ‘It Is What It Is’. In the song, the singer expresses a similar sentiment, singing: “Money no dey bring happiness oh / Na when I get money I realise oh.”
Musk did not provide further context for his post.
The tech billionaire, whose net worth has fluctuated sharply in recent years due to swings in Tesla’s share price, has frequently spoken about the pressures associated with extreme wealth and leadership.
He has also remained in the spotlight for his growing influence in U.S. politics and regulatory discussions, as well as continued scrutiny of his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and X.
On December 16, 2025, Musk became the first person in history to reach a net worth of $638 billion.
Data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index showed that his wealth increased by 42.7 per cent within a year from December 2024.
In October, Musk, who is also the founder of artificial intelligence firm xAI, announced the launch of Grokipedia, an online encyclopedia, further expanding his footprint in the technology sector.
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