"Anyone who says 'Money doesn't buy happiness' truly understands what they are saying," Elon Musk posted on social media platform X on 4/2. The message, accompanied by a sad emoji, has garnered nearly 87 million views.

This statement followed Forbes' adjustment of Musk's net worth to 852 billion USD a day prior. The increase stemmed from aerospace company SpaceX's acquisition of artificial intelligence startup xAI. Holding a 43% stake in the new entity, Musk's wealth surged by 84 billion USD in a single day, making him the first individual globally to reach an 800 billion USD fortune.

Elon Musk attended an investment forum in Washington in 11/2025. Photo: AP

User responses beneath Musk's post varied widely, ranging from expressions of sympathy to outright mockery. Some users suggested he seek solace in religion or philanthropic endeavors.

Numerous studies suggest that money contributes to happiness, but only up to a point. David Bartram, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Leicester, explained to Business Insider that while the two are linked, "the feeling of happiness diminishes."

"Once you have several million USD, becoming even wealthier won't significantly increase your happiness," he stated.

For the ultrarich, "the greatest happiness likely comes from feeling they have contributed positively to the world and treating those around them with care and kindness. This isn't overly complex," Bartram noted.

Elon Musk harbors extensive ambitions spanning space, energy, and artificial intelligence. He aims to establish human presence on Mars via SpaceX and accelerate the global transition to electric vehicles and clean energy through Tesla.

Recently, Musk has made significant investments in artificial intelligence through his startup xAI. His portfolio also includes Neuralink, which develops brain chip implant technology to directly interface human brains with computers; The Boring Company, focused on digging underground tunnels to alleviate urban congestion; and Starlink, providing global satellite internet, particularly in regions with limited telecommunications infrastructure.

By Ha Thu (via AFP, BI)