How much money is enough? Take for instance someone who has made millions, either legally or illegally. Isn’t that enough for someone to live very comfortably in a lifetime and still have enough to pass on? But when someone is infected with not knowing when it is enough it may act like an addictive drug. There is a push for more and more at a feverish pitch. Addicts will often steal to get the next fix, so will some people infected with the disease of accumulation.

What compels someone to accumulate, with highly questionable manipulations, hundreds of millions of dollars non-stop, and in some cases, until their house of cards comes tumbling down?
There are many psychological/emotional issues in this kind of rat race. Is it the system, the individual, or society that has failed us. Here’s an example. I once had an acquaintance who owned a highly profitable business. He committed acts of fraud over the years that incrementally became riskier. When he hit the final and biggest fraud, he got caught. He was indicted and sentenced to jail and when I asked him why he did it he said he didn’t know. And he admitted there was no reason for committing these outrageous and elaborate means of thievery. He was born into wealth as well.

In his case, I see it as someone who loved the power play – he could manipulate people and firms like a chess game. It pumped him up. When he wasn’t doing “deals” (mostly illegal) he was down and feeling empty. He got high on people looking up to him, and fawning in his presence because of his great and growing fortune. My suspicion is that pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes fed his ego mightily. He played everyone – even friends.

Is ego underlying the desire to build fortunes? It certainly is a part of the deal. In an atmosphere where everyone worships money no matter how one gets it, ego is a major player. Riches or the appearance of prosperity brings instant adulation. Our society is rife with demands that people display material possessions and with it comes an artificial sense of power.

Death is the equalizer. Why not pull a cold turkey and stop while still alive. Take the riches you have, be philanthropic, learn to enjoy family, friends — whatever except for greater and greater wealth. Remember, if you take a vacation there’s not much difference if one stays in the lowest price room in a hotel and you can afford the biggest penthouse in the same hotel. One eats in a pub and one eats in an expensive restaurant. You are still in the same location, the same resort or beach, enjoying the same sun and sky.

Copyright 2025 Frances Metzman
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