Billionaire Who Founded 'China's Amazon' Says He Was Happier Making $12 A Month — 'Best Life I Had'

"Money doesn’t buy happiness."

Isn't that the biggest lie the rich ever told? 

After decades of research, the jury is still out. The money versus happiness correlation debate might never reach a conclusion, but some billionaires are frank enough to share what it feels like to be extremely wealthy.

Jack Ma, who co-founded Alibaba — the $183 billion e-commerce giant known as China's Amazon — is one of the most unassuming billionaires, known for being outspoken and not holding back, especially when it comes to sharing thoughts on the secrets of money, success and happiness.

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Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York in 2014, a nostalgic Ma recalled when he was making low wages working as an English teacher, after graduation. 

"Those were fantastic days," said Ma.

At a luncheon with the Economic Club of New York the next year, Ma said he was much happier making just $12 a month as a teacher and called it the "best life I had."

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"It's Not Your Money"

Jack Ma sees excessive money as a responsibility. Ma said that when you have $1 billion, it's "not your money."

"The money I have today is a responsibility. It’s the trust of people in me.”

"It's a Great Pain"

During an interview with CNBC, Ma called the burden of fame and money a "pain."

"It is a pain… Forbes said I am the richest guy in China. It is a great pain. I never thought I would be, I never want to be. I just want to do the thing."

Jack Ma, worth $24 billion today, was born to a poor household and grew up in communist China. He takes pride in failure and rejection and enjoys overcoming obstacles. Ma often shares how he faced consistent rejections in life. He applied to Harvard ten times and got rejected. He applied to get a job in the Police but got rejected. He even failed to secure a job as a KFC waiter.

"The Thing I Learned Is That Don't Give Up!"

Despite these early failures and setbacks, what made Ma extremely successful and one of the richest people on the planet? Ma, as always, was generous enough to tell his secret during a public talk:

"I never give up. I think there is one thing I learned. Why should you have a chance to be successful? Everybody should get used to failing, but not being accepted by other people. Why should other people help you? You should earn the right to be helped. So, the thing I learned is that you shouldn't give up."

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