Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk has ignited a global conversation on wealth and wellbeing after stating that money does not guarantee happiness.
Musk made the remark on Thursday via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Whoever said ‘money can’t buy happiness’ really knew what they were talking about,” the billionaire wrote.
The post quickly went viral, attracting more than 52.1 million views, around 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 and financial success.
While some users agreed with Musk, arguing that money does not shield individuals from emotional struggles, loneliness, or personal challenges, others countered that financial stability significantly improves quality of life, access to opportunities, and peace of mind.
The discussion also resonated strongly in Nigeria, where social media users linked Musk’s comment to Adekunle Gold’s 2021 hit song “It Is What It Is.” In the song, the Afrobeats star echoes a similar sentiment, singing: “Money no dey bring happiness oh / Na when I get money I realise oh.”
Musk did not provide additional context to explain the motivation behind his post.
The tech billionaire, whose net worth has fluctuated sharply in recent years due to movements in Tesla’s share price, has previously spoken about the pressures associated with extreme wealth and high-level leadership.
He has also remained in the spotlight for his growing influence in U.S. politics and regulatory debates, as well as ongoing scrutiny of his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and artificial intelligence firm xAI.
On December 16, 2025, Musk became the first person in history to reach a net worth of $638 billion, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which showed his wealth rose by 42.7 per cent within a year.
In October, Musk announced the launch of Grokipedia, an online encyclopedia developed under xAI, further expanding his footprint in the global technology sector.
