# What does having tons of money actually get you **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 11, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537 "2013-09-11T00:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/21 "2013-09-11T02:15:41Z")
Life is like a shit sandwich. The more bread you have, the less shit you have to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/22 "2013-09-11T02:47:54Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I can only speak about my personal experience, but I’ve come to realize that money can buy more money. Yep. Let me explain. > > I’m comfortable financially, no where near wealthy, but comfortable, and since starting my business last year I’ve become slightly more so. I’m pretty much the same guy I was 25 years ago. The differences are that I am no longer broke, the amount of experience I have, perhaps a little more confidence, and the perception I leave clients, potential clients, and potential investors of my and my company’s ability to make money. > > For just one example of what I mean, I find when I take a potential client on my boat that it is easier to sell them on my services, that I have to jump through fewer hoops, and that my dog and pony show requires just one puppy. Now, I’m not a charm machine, never have been. I’m not a great schmoozer, and definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do well with people who make a lot more money than I do partially due to a perception of my company and, to a lesser extent, me, that we and I make money. My point is without the trappings of success it is doubtful the doors opening to me now would be. Whoever it was who said ‘nothing breeds success like success’ was correct. The more money you have, the more money you _can_ have, and obtain it easier. > > The broke, studio apartment dwelling, subway riding, student loan laden, daily cup-a-soup eating me of 25 years ago could not have achieved what I can today. Of course I’m not everyone, and there are well-to-do 20-somethings, but I wasn’t one of them, and it wasn’t for lack of trying, let me tell ya. I worked as hard then as I do now. It was for lack of moolah. This is true, and its true the way you are using it (influence) and its true in just “money begets money” We pay very little interest in our house, but we make quite a bit in interest and dividends from letting money sit in places where it brings in money. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/23 "2013-09-11T02:59:57Z")
“In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women.” Tony Montana ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/24 "2013-09-11T03:48:13Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I can only speak about my personal experience, but I’ve come to realize that money can buy more money. Yep. Let me explain. > > I’m comfortable financially, no where near wealthy, but comfortable, and since starting my business last year I’ve become slightly more so. I’m pretty much the same guy I was 25 years ago. The differences are that I am no longer broke, the amount of experience I have, perhaps a little more confidence, and the perception I leave clients, potential clients, and potential investors of my and my company’s ability to make money. > > For just one example of what I mean, I find when I take a potential client on my boat that it is easier to sell them on my services, that I have to jump through fewer hoops, and that my dog and pony show requires just one puppy. Now, I’m not a charm machine, never have been. I’m not a great schmoozer, and definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do well with people who make a lot more money than I do partially due to a perception of my company and, to a lesser extent, me, that we and I make money. My point is without the trappings of success it is doubtful the doors opening to me now would be. Whoever it was who said ‘nothing breeds success like success’ was correct. The more money you have, the more money you _can_ have, and obtain it easier. > > The broke, studio apartment dwelling, subway riding, student loan laden, daily cup-a-soup eating me of 25 years ago could not have achieved what I can today. Of course I’m not everyone, and there are well-to-do 20-somethings, but I wasn’t one of them, and it wasn’t for lack of trying, let me tell ya. I worked as hard then as I do now. It was for lack of moolah. Iceberg Slim was saying the same thing back in the 1930s about success breeding success, I’m sure his vocation and whatever you do are closely related. I’m not sure what it is about success that breeds success though. I’m guessing successful people come across as competent and like they don’t ‘need’ your business because they are doing so well and deeply in demand already. Then again, a lot of celebrities are rich and successful, and all they have to show for it after 5 years are a bunch of failed business ventures. So it isn’t always true. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/25 "2013-09-11T04:21:08Z")
I think it was Paul Stanley who said the best part of having lots of money was not having to worry about money anymore. Makes sense. Next to health problems, money problems are the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/26 "2013-09-11T04:24:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > This is true, and its true the way you are using it (influence) and its true in just “money begets money” We pay very little interest in our house, but we make quite a bit in interest and dividends from letting money sit in places where it brings in money. Plus when you have money you have access to better advice and investment opportunities that people who don’t have money have. Even moderate amounts allows you to not do things like yank money from a 401K in a crisis. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/27 "2013-09-11T05:58:10Z")
While it is possible that more money will have benefits, it is also possible it will have liabilities: 1. The more stuff you have, the more time it will take to manage it–for example multiple houses in differing locations. 2. Having household employees can be an unpleasant experience–the old cliche is “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/28 "2013-09-11T06:15:12Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > While it is possible that more money will have benefits, it is also possible it will have liabilities: > > 1. The more stuff you have, the more time it will take to manage it–for example multiple houses in differing locations. These are what my colleagues and I call high class problems. > [@PastTense](#): > > 1. Having household employees can be an unpleasant experience–the old cliche is “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” And this is simply not true. If an employee is not competent, replace him or her with someone who is. Doing the work yourself is the worst decision to make, and you’re fooling yourself if you believe you can do it better, quicker, more proficiently, or more efficiently than someone trained for the task. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/29 "2013-09-11T06:30:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And even on a non-joking level, money certainly helps. Money is like good looks - it doesn’t guarantee you’ll find true love but it greatly increases your dating pool and improves the odds you’ll find true love. Generally people with money have more self confidence, so yes they get laid more. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/30 "2013-09-11T06:45:21Z")
You get to go to the rich person’s zoo and see the fantastical animals. (Simpsons ref.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/31 "2013-09-11T06:47:13Z")
Two chicks at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/32 "2013-09-11T06:52:15Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Generally people with money have more self confidence, so yes they get laid more. And if you are socially awkward people will make the effort to reach out to you. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/33 "2013-09-11T07:16:12Z")
Money can permit people greater freedom to make bad choices too - not just obviously self-destructive ones that we have seen big lottery winners do, but subtle incremental ones that can bring about a general change that was not desired. Case in point: I actually know a self-made multi-millionaire couple/family. Their wealth first enabled them to take advantage of more free time to do the things they wanted - to spend more time at the gym, to go sailing, horse riding, swimming, etc. Then over the course of several years, they made subtle choices - they bought a bigger house and installed their own gym equipment; they built an extension with a large indoor pool; they moved to an even bigger house that had all of the above, plus a stable block for their horses - individually, these (and other similar choices) all seemed sensible, but each one severed a few social ties. Now they’re comfortable and doing the things they want, but wondering where their friends have all gone. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/34 "2013-09-11T08:21:46Z")
Being broke sucks, but once you have more than reasonable amount so that you don’t have to worry about work, paying rent, etc. then there’s not much tons more money can get you. Especially in the happiness department. I think the difference between 10 million in the bank and 10 billion is minimal. Paul Allen’s mother still has Alzheimer and Steve Jobs still died fairly young. Bill Gates is probably doing the right thing giving it away in droves, also from the perspective of his own happiness and mental wellbeing. Also for some reason wealthy people seems to have really fucked up children. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/35 "2013-09-11T08:27:56Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > And this is simply not true. If an employee is not competent, replace him or her with someone who is. Doing the work yourself is the worst decision to make, and you’re fooling yourself if you believe you can do it better, quicker, more proficiently, or more efficiently than someone trained for the task. Yes, but there is a satisfaction in doing things yourself. If you are rich you can buy a chef to make you great food and a skipper to steer your yacht. But ultimately I think it is more satisfactory to learn to prepare your own great meals, and yourself steer your boat. Also if you get used to the idea that money can buy people, you might quickly acquire personality traits than are less pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/36 "2013-09-11T09:00:20Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Two chicks at the same time. Now you’re talkin’! ---
**Author:** ![Itself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/37 "2013-09-11T09:21:47Z")
What having _tons_ of money, as opposed to simply enough for security and stability, gets you is freedom. You don’t have to spend all day in some pointless job just to ends meet; you can do what you want to do with your life. (That may involve having a job; certainly some CEOs qualify as having tons of money, but they could summarily quit if they genuinely wanted to). You can do almost anything you want to do with your life, rather than spending 9 or 10 hours each day doing busywork for someone else or being stuck in traffic en route to or from doing busywork for someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/38 "2013-09-11T09:32:16Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Also for some reason wealthy people seems to have really fucked up children. In part, because there’s no longer a natural excuse for why little Veruca can’t just have a pony right now, or whatever whim has taken her at the moment. There’s no (or less) reason for them to develop patience, politeness, or people skills in general. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/39 "2013-09-11T09:51:08Z")
In civilized society, money is how we keep score. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537/40 "2013-09-11T10:24:04Z")
As _Cow & Boy_ wrote, money can buy you unlimited passes to every theme park in the world and plane fare to get there. “That’s a lot of happiness” 😉 > [@Rune](#): > > Also if you get used to the idea that money can buy people, you might quickly acquire personality traits than are less pleasant. Was thinking about a scenario the other day. Let’s say that you met Bono, or Mick Jagger, or Madonna or someone like that who had started out poor and working class, but had now spent a lot of time being filthy rich and having servants and people waiting on them hand and foot. Would you even consider inviting someone like them into your house as a guest? For my part, I’d be afraid that they’d just treat me and my house as just another servant, just another hotel. And I’d end up saying “Make your own goddamned toast, Paul! And pick your shit up off my floor!” And then too, sometimes I see how some of those people act after years of wealth and I want to ask them if they even remember being that poor kid from nowhere. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > In civilized society, money is how we keep score. I sometimes wonder why the ultra-rich keep doing everything in their power to gain even more wealth, even when they’re ancient and obviously near death. All I can figure is that the game is all they know and what they like to do. Not like they can take it with them or that they’ll be ‘long remembered’ or anything. Hell, most of the rich people from a century ago are only remembered from the name of a house left behind, or a park, if anyone even remembers those things, and they certainly won’t be remembered a thousand years from now. Their wealth bought them precious little more ‘immortality’ than I’ll have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-having-tons-of-money-actually-get-you/668537.md?page=3)