Money Isn’t Always a Guarantee of Happiness
Personal Reflections on Wealth, Purpose, and Four Generations of Blessings
Reading the Wall Street Journal article by Juliet Chung about the record number of billionaires in the world reminded me of a simple truth I have learned over 91 years: money alone is never a guarantee of happiness.
According to the report, there are now nearly 2,900 billionaires with a combined wealth of almost $16 trillion. Some earned their fortunes, others inherited them, and many spend their lives chasing even more. But I’ve lived long enough to see that the size of one’s bank account does not always reflect the size of one’s joy.
For me, happiness has always been something quieter, simpler, and far more personal.
Comfort, Not Excess
I have never wished to be a billionaire. What I wished for and still cherish is enough.
Enough to live comfortably. Enough to provide for my family. Enough to enjoy simple pleasures like travel, hobbies, writing my blogs, and in earlier years, singing in choirs with Macrine (RIP) and doing our medical mission work free of financial worries.
Money has its place. It gives security and stability. But beyond a certain point, the rest is just numbers on paper. The richest people I have known were not always the happiest. Some lived with stress, loneliness, or constant fear of losing what they had.
As I look back, the true wealth of my life came from something money could never buy.
The Accomplishments That Matter
My happiest moments were never tied to material possessions, but to accomplishment and purpose:
A long and meaningful career with the FDA.
My involvement with the 9/11 response.
The medical missions my wife and I supported in the Philippines.
And of course, my 15+ years of blogging, sharing memories, reflections, and life lessons with readers around the world.
These achievements gave my life meaning. They kept me engaged, curious, and grateful. No billionaire could purchase that feeling of fulfillment.
Four Generations of Joy
If money were the measure of happiness, then the richest would be the happiest. But the greatest treasure of my life came this year with the arrival of two great-grandsons.
Seeing four generations grow, thrive, and flourish has been my true legacy. This is the kind of wealth that deepens with time, not with interest.
Every milestone of my children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren tells me I have lived a life of purpose. You cannot buy that type of joy, not even with a billion dollars.
Health and Relationships: The Real Foundations of Happiness
As I approach 91, I am reminded daily that good health is priceless. It is the foundation on which all happiness is built.
Equally important are relationships, the people who stand by you, the communities you belong to, the love you give and receive. Whether at church, in my neighborhood, or here at THD, these connections enrich my days.
Even now, living with Stage 4 Kidney Disease, I find happiness in the kindness of others, the support of family, and the peaceful acceptance of life’s final chapters. No amount of wealth could substitute for these bonds.
Final Thoughts
When I read about billionaires multiplying every year, I do not envy them. I do not wish for their fortunes. I only wish that each of them finds the happiness that money alone cannot provide.
Because at the end of a long life, you learn that:
Happiness is enough, not excess.
Happiness is purpose, not possessions.
Happiness is love, not luxury.
Happiness is health, gratitude, and the family that carries your legacy into the future.
By these measures, I am wealthier than any billionaire in this Planet Earth.
- Reduces stress: Financial security removes the anxiety of not meeting basic needs, which significantly boosts well-being.
- Increases life satisfaction: More money correlates with higher overall life satisfaction, even if it doesn't always boost daily joy, according to some studies.
- Provides options: Money buys freedom from worry and the ability to invest in experiences and support loved ones.
- Diminishing returns: Beyond a certain income (which varies but is often cited around $75k-$100k+), more money doesn't proportionally increase happiness.
- Doesn't replace core needs: Strong relationships, a sense of purpose, social support, and good health are crucial and aren't bought by wealth.
- Can create new problems: Excessive focus on money can lead to materialism or unhealthy financial behaviors, as noted in YouTube.
- It's a means, not an end: Money is a tool to achieve well-being, not happiness itself, like a printing press for a newspaper.
- It's about perspective: How you use money and your mindset towards it (gratitude, comparison) matters more than the sheer amount.
- Balance is key: Financial stability is important, but prioritizing relationships, purpose, and health alongside it leads to genuine happiness.
- Lastly, here are some of my Favorite Quotes on Happiness
Last but not Least, I asked Chat GPT this Query: What does it mean to be Wealthy in the US this year? How much Money is Needed to be considered wealthy in the US today?ChatGPT said: Good question, “wealthy” in the U.S. is a bit slippery, because it depends a lot on how you measure it (income vs net worth vs ability to live how you want), where you live, and what lifestyle you’re used to. But there are some recent data-driven benchmarks and widely used definitions that give us a sense of what “wealthy” tends to mean for many Americans in 2025.Key benchmarks for “wealthy” in the U.S. (2025)
Net worth (assets minus debts)
According to a 2025 survey by Charles Schwab, the average American now says you need about US$ 2.3 million in net worth to be considered “wealthy.” Fortune+2Charles Schwab Press Room+2
By contrast, the same survey found that many consider ≈ US$ 839,000 sufficient to be “financially comfortable.” Charles Schwab Press Room+1
Other sources place being in the top 10% of American households (by net worth) around US$ 1.6 million, with the 95th-percentile (top ~5%) around US$ 3.8–4 million. Harness+2MarketWatch+2
To be among the top 2% of households by net worth, estimates often point to around US$ 5.5 million. Yahoo Finance+1
So depending on how “wealthy” is defined (top 10%, top 5%, top 2%, or simply “wealthy enough” per survey), the net-worth threshold ranges from roughly $1.6 M to $5.5 M+,with the “average American perception” hovering near $2.3 M.
Income (annual household or personal income)
Because wealth isn’t just what you own but what you earn, income thresholds also matter:
According to Pew Research Center, a three-person household with an annual income above ≈ US$ 169,800 is considered “upper-income”, that is, comfortably above the median. Pew Research Center+1
For those aiming to be in the top 1% of earners nationally, some estimates place the required annual household income around US$ 731,000+. SmartAsset+1
But as experts note, “high income” doesn’t automatically equal “wealthy”, especially in expensive areas. Money Talks News+1
Why “wealthy” is more than just a number
Cost of living and location matter a lot. What looks “wealthy” in a low-cost rural area might be just “upper-middle class” in a high-cost metro region (e.g. near big cities, coastal areas). Yahoo Finance+2MarketWatch+2
Assets vs. liquid assets. Net worth includes everything, real estate, investments, savings, debts. Someone may have a high net worth tied up in real estate but little in liquid assets (cash, stocks), which affects flexibility and “wealth feel.”
Lifestyle, obligations, and family structure. Costs like mortgages, children’s schooling or college, healthcare, and retirement goals dramatically shift what “wealthy enough” means for different people.
Subjective perception matters. Surveys show many people think ~$2.3 M net worth or ~$200,000+ a year income qualify as wealthy today, but that might reflect aspirations, not actual long-term financial security. Fortune+2Investopedia+2
What “wealthy” means for a place like Walnut Creek / Bay Area (High Cost of Living)
Given your location in Walnut Creek (within the broader Bay Area), the thresholds for “wealthy” are likely higher than national median or “comfortable.” In high-cost regions:
Even a household net worth of ~$2–3 M might not feel “wealthy” long-term if property values, taxes, housing costs, and desired lifestyle are high.
Household income that puts you in the “upper-income” bracket nationally (say $170K–$200K) may not afford a “rich lifestyle” in the Bay Area without savings, investments, or home equity.
To have true financial flexibility and long-term security, including homeownership, retirement savings, kids or other obligations, aiming for the top 5–10% nationally (net worth of ~$3–5 M+ and/or significant investable assets) might feel more like “wealthy.”
Wealth vs. “Financial Security” vs. “Rich Lifestyle”
It helps to think of “wealthy” not as one single category, but as a spectrum and to distinguish between:
Financial security / comfort- being able to meet needs, have savings, not worry about basic stability.
Affluence / upper-middle class -having more discretionary income, nicer home/car, vacations, some luxuries.
True “wealthy” or financially independent- having enough net worth and income to sustain lifestyle without worrying about employment, emergencies, retirement, or large expenses.
Finally, what qualifies as “wealthy” shifts based on expectations: are you thinking of being comfortable in retirement? Providing for a family in an expensive area? Having freedom to travel or pursue passions?
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