Do "beautiful rich people" have better lives?

[Conversationist]

"The beautiful people" I see them in magazines, on TV and in the movies, but I also see them occasionally walking up and down the street, or in a high end expensive store at the mall. Outwardly they seem to have it all: Beauty, confidence, poise, money, friends and great jobs. In high school they were likely the head cheerleader or Homecoming King.

People are in awe of them
They are smiled at more often (according to studies)
People want to be them-- or with them

But behind the appearance, I wonder what life is really like for the so called "beautiful people" I am looking for sincere replies to this interesting question!

 

[Micca]

I would think life is better for them. Granted, they have a different set of problems, but they have the resources to take care of the things that take so much time and energy for the rest of us. If you're talking Hollywood stars, their downside is that the odds of having a successful marriage is slim.

 

[TimeforMe]

Yes, I'd have to agree with Micca. It's easy to say that money doesn't equal happiness, but I do believe the quality of life is much better/easier when one has money.

Now beauty, fame and celebrity are a whole different matter. I think all, to some extent, come with another whole set of problems; none of which I would be envious. I think beauty opens up doors (so to speak), however, and does make life a bit easier

 

[Planogirl]

A lot of money will always enhance happiness. I don't think it alone will cause happiness but I've struggled enough with money issues to know that a lack of it can lead to lots of problems.

I agree that fame can cause more problems however while beauty is a draw.

 

[chrissyk]

One of DH's good friends is far richer than most celebrities/sports stars due to an equity stake in a company that was very successful. I can honestly say that the money did NOT make him happy. He told DH that he envies us our marriage, which made me so sad. His wife is very wrapped up in the money and he's not...that does not make for a nice homelife I guess. In his case, I think that his life was a lot easier when he was rather poor, unfortunately.

I don't know about the truly beautiful people...I don't know too many of them, LOL! I know plenty of average-looking people who have gotten rich off of tech companies that did well in the '90's, and I can honestly say that the money hasn't done much for any of them...if they were happy before, they're happy now, and if they were unhappy before the money didn't really change that.

 

[GeorgeG]

Nah, they're just beatiful and rich.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I don't know. Years ago my cousin was the president of the sonny and cher fan club. He went to their house and stayed with them. He said they really were just normal people. He played outside with their daughter and pushed her on her swingset. He said for lunch, they just got out a giant roll of salami and said, here, want some? I guess it affects different people differently. My cousins daughter went to school with some girl who was filming nickelodeon stuff. She missed all the kids from school, so her mother had some girls from school come to florida and stay in a condo to visit her. I guess they are just looking for some normalcy in their lives sometimes, maybe they find it.

 

[roger_ramjet]

Depends on how they spend their time. If they're beautiful and rich and spend half the day high on crack, I wouldn't consider that particularly pleasing

They certainly do have fewer barriers to happiness, though. Probably why they're often miserable - they don't have to strive too hard to be happy, so being miserable is a bit more of a challenge and relieves their boredom!

 

[Kallison]

I say no when you read about most of Hollywood celebs their homelifes do not seem happy. They are always worrying about keeping up. The more money you make the more you spend.

 

[FroggyinArk]

hmmmm being i will probably never be either beautiful or rich i really dont know that they have it any better than us poor ugly folks

 

[DemonLlama]

You'd have to define "better." If it is a matter of the ability to go, do, and buy, then yes. If it is a matter of happiness, contentment, love, and security (not the monetary kind), then absolutely not.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Not sure, but will volunteer to be in the test group!

BTW-for a perspecitive on this theme, see A Diary of a Mad Back Woman

 

[babar]

It's better in the fact that they don't have to worry about paying rent on time, being able to afford to go out to dinner, vacations, bills.....

Worse in that they always have to wonder who is a true friend and who just wants something from them.

 

[Buckalew11]

No, I don't think so. I want enough money to pay my bills and have a few extras but you can't buy happiness. It is all about being content with what you have. My happiness comes more from people than things. I think we're taught in this country that more money, more everything, will make you more happy but it doesn't.

 

[swilphil]

Some of the most miserable people I know have gobs of money. In one case, the person is somewhat obsessed with money but also a very negative person person when it comes to her views on everything else. She is rarely a happy person. I know there are some people with money who are happy, but I don't think the source of their happiness is money. Most of us who think we don't have money are financially better off than most people in the world. It really is all about perspective.

 

[Rowena]

I think it's trading one set of priorities for another. The grass is always greener, no matter which side of the fence you're on. (Ayup, someone will look at you at some point and wish to be you.)
Water your own grass and stop looking over the fence. If you hate your lawn, do what you can to change it. Don't envy your neighbors. It's a waste of time and energy.

 

[magicmouse2]

I think I would be happier if I had lots of money instead of scrimping and saving. Not bothered about being beautiful , I dont like to be centre of attention.

I would be able to move to a nicer place, I hate where we live now, I wouldnt have to do my own cleaning, and I could visit WDW more often!!!

 

[720L]

Rowena: I love your reply! When I get depressed, I always say to myself "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence". But I never heard the rest of what you said. So true! I'm printing it out and putting it on my refridgerator.

 

[momof2inPA]

I'm pretty sure with money you reach a point of diminishing returns. The big house would be nice, but how much more pleasure does it give you to buy the really big house? Vacations at the GF twice a year would be nice, but how much nicer would vacations at the GF three times a year be?

The prettiest girl from my high school also was one of the wealthiest. She had an affair with a married man, had problems in college, was beaten by her first husband, got divorced and seems pretty happy now, but I think she struggles to maintain that perfect outward appearance because it's always been so much of her persona.

 

[C.Ann]

Look at "the" Kennedy's.. Beauty, power, gobs of money - and years and years of tragedy and heartache.. I'll take my life over theirs any day of the week..