On 5/2, Elon Musk sparked widespread debate on social media platform X by posting the statement, "Whoever says 'money can't buy happiness' truly knows what they're talking about," accompanied by a sad emoji. The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 87 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes and comments.

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

The proverb "money cannot bring happiness" has been deeply ingrained in popular culture for centuries, tracing its origins to the 18th-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This timeless saying suggests that while money can provide comfort and security, it does not guarantee true happiness or fulfillment derived from non-material aspects of life.

Musk's post, coming from the world's wealthiest individual, ignited a flurry of reactions on social media. Users were divided, with some expressing agreement while others responded with sarcasm.

Many users questioned Musk's sentiment, with one commenter asking, "So, you're not happy?" Another user playfully challenged the billionaire, writing, "First, give me 1 billion USD, and I will verify the saying myself." A common jest among users was the preference to "be a miserable billionaire than be miserable without money."

The context of Musk's immense wealth adds another layer to the discussion. Forbes magazine reported on 3/2 that Musk became the first person globally to amass a fortune exceeding 800 billion USD. His current net worth stands over 570 billion USD higher than that of the world's second-richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page.

Ngoc Anh (According to Newsweek, Yahoo News, NDTV)