Can The $1.5 Billion Powerball Jackpot Buy You Happiness?
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DALLAS (CBS11) - It is often said money can't buy happiness, but you would be hard pressed to find many people buying Powerball tickets at Fuel City in Dallas Wednesday that believe it.
"A billion dollars can definitely buy you happiness," Jammeila Stephens said.
With a record jackpot of $1.5 billion, between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday more than $100,000 worth of Powerball tickets were being sold every minute in Texas. That set a new record, according to the Texas Lottery.
However, co-founder and editor of the magazine, Live Happy, Deborah Heisz said people often over estimate the value of money when it comes to happiness.
"I think particularly in the United States people we all think money will make you happier," she said. "Certainly we love buying the new house, the mansion, whatever it is. The first month it's a mansion, but the next month it's where you live. It wears off really fast."
Heisz said the key is not how much you have but how you spend it. She said studies show spending money on experiences and giving to charity, rather than spending it on material things, leads to greater happiness.
For those in line at Fuel City, nearly all agreed one experience would make them happier – the experience of winning Powerball.
Powerball player Christopher Smith said, "I'm pretty sure $1.5 billion dollars would make anybody happy."
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