The film Citizen Kane is a really good example to talk about money and happiness.

We see obviously Kane is a talented person in someway and of course rich. However, people might also feel the same way as I did that we don’t like this guy. While he is famous and rich, the way he talked to people and how he pursuit the interest is disrespectful and selfish. Probably, for an outsider we don’t care about how famous or rich the person we’re talking to is. We just care how he responds to me, how he treats me, and whether he is respectful to me. However, I may also doubt whether Kane himself is happy. It seems that he enjoys the power of being flattered but we see the deepest sadness he had in the end. From that we might guess the he is not always happy all the time especially when he gets richer and more popular.

Thus, the relationship between money and happiness might not be that straightforward -positive or negative. Of course we know the richer the happier in general cases but from this film we also learn that the significant amount of money can’t ensure happiness either. Therefore, it seems that the logic of the richer the happier may apply to an extent beyond which, they are not strongly positively related. In other words, we just need enough money to have an above average life. Once we satisfy the basic needs, the beyond happiness will not too much based on money.