They say you can’t put a price on joy, but new research is turning that old adage on its head. According to a poll of 2,000 adults, the cost of happiness comes in at a staggering £4,428,942. That’s the magic figure Brits believe would make them truly content.
Yet, with 58% of the nation admitting they find it challenging to manage their money, it’s no wonder many are dreaming of quick routes to big bucks.
The same survey found that people would consider all sorts of wild stunts if it meant pocketing a hefty sum. For instance, you’d have to cough up an eye-watering £6,356,256 to persuade someone to jump into shark-infested waters—and that’s just for starters.
Other remarkable paydays include £3,217,735 to munch on the world’s spiciest chilli, and a cool £5,059,359 to legally rename oneself to Donald Trump.
And if you’re feeling truly brave, £4,659,777 might be enough to coax you into sparring with a certain heavyweight champion.
Incredibly, marriage to a complete stranger would start at £5,260,994, while some people would even go without speaking to their significant other for a year if they had £6,669,315 in the bank.
It doesn’t end there: participants said they’d need a colossal £10,818,871 to risk it all on a life-or-death style reality TV show.
A spokesperson for IG Invest, which commissioned the study, said, “With so many people finding money management stressful, it’s not surprising they’d do something risky for a chance to win big. However, we want to ease those anxieties.
Our new IG Invest app streamlines the process of investing so users can grow their wealth with greater confidence.”
The poll also revealed that 65% of adults would be more inclined to invest if it were as simple as using a smartphone app.
Perhaps that’s why one in three daydreams daily about landing a windfall—and 41% admit they’d consider something silly or dangerous to get rich quick.
Meanwhile, almost half of couples find themselves fantasizing about how different life would look with a loaded bank account.
Still, despite the allure of a massive fortune, 27% of respondents feel money can’t ultimately buy joy—yet 52% believe it definitely reduces stress.
So, while the cost of happiness may look like a multi-million-pound figure on paper, there’s a fair share of people who reckon genuine fulfilment isn’t for sale at any price.