Karl Rabeder grew up poor and thought that life would be wonderful if he had money. But when he got rich, Karl discovered that he was unhappy ... so he decided to give away every penny of his £3 million fortune:
"My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing," he told The Daily Telegraph. "Money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness to come."
Instead, he will move out of his luxury Alpine retreat into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a simple bedsit in Innsbruck.
His entire proceeds are going to charities he set up in Central and Latin America, but he will not even take a salary from these.
"For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness," he said. "I come from a very poor family where the rules were to work more to achieve more material things, and I applied this for many years," said Mr Rabeder.
But over time, he had another, conflicting feeling.
"More and more I heard the words: 'Stop what you are doing now – all this luxury and consumerism – and start your real life'," he said. "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish for or need. I have the feeling that there are lot of people doing the same thing."
Man... :/
So true!
But good for him, donating it all to charity.
This guy has a great safety net- socialized medicine, a complete social welfare network, the fame coming to him for doing this, an appearance on Oprah...
Why do people have to be such cynics...Are sooo distrustful about a man's journey for a deeper meaning of happiness without material wealth whereby we just can't accept his generosity at face value!
Perhaps he's no 'Mother Theresas'...but maybe he's just doing it his way....
Applaud that man!
But if that ain't him, and he recognizes it, and wants to be a swell fellow, then good for him!
Our society has not been able to adapt to these changes naturally, in an evolved way. So we follow those people that we think are wealthy and successful. We create a list of wants without satisfying our basic needs. The media tells us that if you buy this car, you will be so happy. You buy the car and after a few weeks, all you have is a debt and a piece of metal.
You get a big screen TV and you sit in front of it like a zombie for hours being entertained.
And I am not against technology or tools that are created, but if we took the time to learn how to use these tools in our lives and live life, we would be much more satisfied with who we were.
I hope I can be as happy as this guy.
Something tells me that I wont be.
Isn't there a way to find the middle ground?
A way to apply our gifts and talents in a career or business that helps to sustain and fulfill our needs?
Ian
Still seems like wise words to me. This life is short but heaven lasts forever.
God Bless!
There are a lot of people who suffer ever day from hunger, homelessness, depression, bad health, etc. due to lack of money. So if some users are screaming at their computers right now, I DON'T BLAME YOU!!
2 Happy those who observe God's decrees, who seek the LORD with all their heart.
KEY'S TO A HAPPY LIFE - Imam W D Mohammed
1. Simple Living
2. Hardwork
3. High Thinking
HAPPINESS DOES NOT COME FROM MONEY
Well done!!!
I wish I had his courage!!
They call them social investors , they require a start-up donates X money when it becomes large or goes public.
Look, if a loved one is terminally ill, all the money in the world isn't going to make you happy. Barring that, if you have money and don't have to stress out about getting the bills paid and can spend the time doing the things you love... be it crafts, travel, singing...whatever... then money can buy you happiness or at least peace of mind...
I have no idea who something is telling me to contact you. In this magical world where anything can happen I think I might hear from you. In case prissycrissypoo62@hotmail.com
You all donating to the africans and the latins and the poor people here and there, what about the poor people in your own damn neighborhood? They are not worth helping? Even you give $1,000 to a struggling middle class family in todays economy, it makes more a difference in their lives than it does to give an african rice for a day.
WE DONT GET DONATIONS BECAUSE WE WORK 50 HOURS A WEEK TO MAKE A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU MAKE IN A DAY?
Economy is all screwed to hell.
Good for you. I feel the same way,it is too bad you did not realize this sooner. I will be keeping my money for the sake of my family,but I have recently come to the conclusion that money does not buy happiness although it can nurture it. Maybe consider keeping a little for a rainy day. If you don't have a family than what the hey,give it all away and go be happy. Some people no matter how much money they have will never find true happiness. You have been given a gift,enjoy it !
Sincerely,
Todd
hey dope... happiness is not external.
thats very nice of you its like the Enlightenment.
You should really consider donation to small HIV organizations that still do it for the communities and not money
Enjoy the journey!
Dawn
WELCOME TO REALITY....
I am guessing he doesn't have kids either. Anyone who does knows that without any money, you can't provide the bare necessities for the people you love the most.
And don't even get me started on trying to provide health insurance and decent health care for them in the USA!
Money may not buy you happiness, but it gives you options in life. And it gives you the ability to spend quality time with your loved ones. I have lots of good ways to spend that $3 million, that's for sure!
If you worship dead things you will have a dead life.
WELCOME TO REALITY....
Whoever says that money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop.
I'd rather have too much money than not enough. Poverty sux!
www.georgiastreetgarden.blogspot.com
alden k
And I can tell you that those charities in Central and Latin America, which btw is the same, are going to spend the whole money in no helping people but helping themselves and making themselves happy in less than a month.
something to think about. Karl, whether you give it away or not, TEACH A MAN TO FISH. Don't just hand him a fish to make yourself feel better.
But…
Apparently he doesn't know what it's like to be broke in a bad economy right now. Struggling to pay the bills on time, let alone put food on the table. There is nothing 'Happy' about being in those situations.
So yes… Money does NOT buy you happiness but it can promote a better life for you and your family. It can pay the bills. Feed the family and every so often pay for hobbies that you may enjoy.
I don't quite understand how living in a hut, in the mountains with no money will = happiness. I would figure it to be quite quiet and lonely.
I'm unemployeed my husband just got out of the hospital from having a toe amputated and is out of work for at least 2 months on medical leave(unpaid). we now have 55,000 in medical bills and cant pay rent. we tried to get tanf (temporary assitance for needy families), food stamps and medicaid at the time but was turned down. he made just over $600 for the month of Jan, too much to get it. we have reaplied. the limit it $340 max. income. If he really wants to be happy giving it away he should try looking in his own back yard( country) I'm sure there are others like us.
he shouldntve watched fightclub.
It is understandable how those of us who were raised in Western society have trouble with this. In the east happiness is practiced; in the west happiness is pursued (as the saying goes). Hats off to him for finally understanding the difference.
"If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is a law, and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.” Dan Millman