Rich OR Famous

[4X4]

A couple of threads currently on the front page have me wondering this... If you could have only one, would you rather be rich or famous?
For me, the answer is obvious. I'd take the cash. I hate running into people at the saddledome or in a bar. I can't imagine my life if everywhere I went people were asking for my autograph and take a picture... Of course, on the flip side, having all that money makes you a target for every scam and fraud known to man. You'd have "friends" coming out of the woodwork... Your long, lost father just wanted to say hello...

Donald Trump has me stumped. I don't want to discuss his assets vs his debtload, the guy has money. That is clear. Maybe it's $20mil or maybe it's $20bil, it's more than I have. Dude is rich. But he craves fame... Why? With the Apprentice shows? He has money but wants fame.

And there are all these tv shows like American Idol about showcasing yourself. I suppose it is a meal ticket.. But you have to realize that along with that comes fame. Do you really want that?

Then you see someone like Britney Spears. She's got money and fame, but I bet she'd trade her fortune right now to become anonomous. She'll never be able to take a crap without someone reporting what it smelled like. That has got to really suck.

[Dan02]

easy one, rich.

Of course for the most part the 2 are intertwined. Using your examples, donald is both rich and famous, same with Brittney.

[STeeLy]

Definitely the money for me... I have pretty much the same reasons as you do. I just don't want to be walking around the street and having people recognize me at all... I mean, if its a friend it'd be fine, but if some stranger comes up and asks me for something... then no, I don't want that.

[Sainters7]

Rich by a mile. I dont give two craps if no one knows who the hell I am.

[ricoFlame]

what good is fame? just a freakin headache all day, paparazzi trying to get photos of your junk all the time.

[FlamesAddiction]

Definitely rich... in fact, I would hate to be famous. I love my anonymity too much and would have trouble trading it for anything. You're a lot more free when you can fly under the radar. Being rich and anonymous would be total freedom - although it seems rare for someone to have both.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

but if some stranger comes up and asks me for something... then no, I don't want that.

I don't understand why some people crave that attention. And again, Trump is a great example, he was some loaded guy like Warren Buffet or Bill GAtes (not quite as loaded) but the cash isn't enough. He wants to be a big shot on TV... I mean, it's cool, I just don't know why he'd want that.

[Thunderball]

Rich for sure... being famous is too much effort, unless its like politician or athlete famous... definitely not hollywood famous

[Ozy_Flame]

I'd be famous. You can get rich by being popular. Very, very easily.

Then, once you have your money and you get tired of all the attention, you'll have enough money to just disappear. And you'll have left a legacy!

Why not have your cake and eat it too?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I'd rather be strong, so I can pick up children and throw them into the stratosphere.

[flip]

although id pick rich i understand why people pick famous.

being famous does a lot for your ego, for example while im sure it is relatively easy to get women when you're rich it's a lot easier when famous. famous people get into fancy restaurants easier etc. when you are rich you have to build your name, when you are famous you use your fame to build your riches.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Rich for sure, but famous would be fun too.
I'd like to be able to date supermodels, go to the oscars, hang out with Snoop Dogg etc.
Rich alone won't necessarily get you these.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Rich, however, if we proceed with the belief that there is no life after death, one could argue that the more famous one is the longer they will be remembered in history and thus, the reason for their life.

[V]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Why not have your cake and eat it too?

Because the OP stipulated that you had to pick one or the other.

For me it's easy. I'd pick rich. All the happiness in the world won't buy you money...

[Phanuthier]

Do I get to choose what I'm famous for? If so, I'd like to be famous for being an entrepreneaur in a field of science I am in, or something I did to contribute to this world in a positive way.

I think I can be rich under my own abilities, I'm not overly worried about that.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by flip

although id pick rich i understand why people pick famous.

being famous does a lot for your ego, for example while im sure it is relatively easy to get women when you're rich it's a lot easier when famous. famous people get into fancy restaurants easier etc. when you are rich you have to build your name, when you are famous you use your fame to build your riches.

I agree. You can have all the money in the world, but nothing beats an amazing night with a beautiful woman. Now that, gentlemen, is priceless.

Fame helps you get there; money just gets you a prostitute or a gold digger.

[MacDougalbry]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I'd rather be strong, so I can pick up children and throw them into the stratosphere.

How many 5 years olds do you think you could throw at one time?


As for the question, fame brings status and power; money not necessarily so. I'll take the money, though... when should I expect my cheque?

[Incinerator]

c'mon 4x4 did you even give this question any thought? 90% of the population is gonna answer rich. This is not even a debate. If you're rich you can CHOOSE to be famous, whereas if you're famous you may not be necessarily rich, and you may be famous for the wrong reasons.

[Incinerator]

I got a modified one: If someone offered you a fortune but you have to become famous and get hounded by paparazzi all day would you do it? would you trade your freedom/anonymity for money? Especially you FlamesAddiction

[CaptainCrunch]

I'd rather be infamous, and meet my end in a historic heinous way.