Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has set the internet ablaze after suggesting that money cannot buy happiness.
In a post shared on X on February 5, Elon Musk wrote, “Whoever said ‘money can’t buy happiness’ really knew what they were talking about.”
The remark quickly sparked debate online, given Musk’s immense wealth and status as one of the most powerful businessmen in the world.
Musk, 54, is the founder of SpaceX, which he launched more than two decades ago, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, and the owner of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, which he acquired in 2022.
Whoever said “money can’t buy happiness” really knew what they were talking about ?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 5, 2026
Reacting to the post, X user Jeremiah Knight drew a biblical comparison, writing, “King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived, wealthier than even you, @elonmusk. After tasting every pleasure and power, Solomon concluded, ‘ALL IS VANITY.’ True joy is not found in riches or achievement, but in knowing God.”
Another user, identified as XQ55, commented, “If you distributed your wealth across the globe, there would be eight billion happy people. Be a source of happiness for others.”
Mutua Brian added humorously, “You’re alone here. The way I spend my extra Sh258 ($2) makes this nonsensical.”
Musk’s net worth is estimated at approximately Sh106 trillion ($852.5 bn) according to Forbes’ real-time tracker.
This valuation makes him the wealthiest individual in history, largely driven by the recent landmark merger between SpaceX and xAI.
The dollar billionaire has also been in the spotlight recently, following reports linking him to the newly released Epstein files.
According to Al Jazeera, documents show email exchanges between the Tesla founder and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein dating back to 2012 and 2013, during which Epstein appeared to invite Musk to his private Caribbean island.
In one 2012 email, Musk allegedly asked, “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
A planned meeting the following year was later cancelled by Epstein.
While the emails do not confirm that Musk ever visited the island, they suggest an interest in meeting Epstein, a point that appears to contradict Musk’s earlier claims that he consistently declined such invitations.
Responding to the reports, Musk denied any wrongdoing, stating on X, “No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released, and I’m glad that has finally happened. I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express.’”
He added that while some emails could be misinterpreted, his focus remained on accountability, saying, “What I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding the exploitation of underage girls.”
