[wazzer]

I guess those people that you observed being highly materialistic have a false idea about what will bring them happiness. There are people that strive for happiness and choose a different path. Money, I belive, can only get you so far.

[corbulo]

The materialism is just a symptom. The root issue is believe happiness is a stasis point where you'll just ride off into the sunset in this fixed emotional state until you die. That belief is why they think they could 'buy' it. They dedicate their lives in search of it.

[JellyBeanThief]

Money prevents you from being unhappy because of little things like no food, no water, no shelter, poor health, exploitation, exhaustion, social isolation, and so on.

Some people would say that's very far.