A boy performs on a lit stage with a microphone as a crowd of cheering children surrounds him

Art by Carolyn Ridsdale; © Arnadi . | Dreamstime.com (Hands); Dobrila Vignjevic/Getty Images (left children); Frazao Studio Latino/Getty Images (middle children); skynesher/Getty Images (hands); Ivan Pantic/Getty Images (cheering audience); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (all other images)

Can Fame and Fortune Make You Happy?

Being a celebrity seems like a dream come true. So why are many young stars so miserable?

By Mackenzie Carro, with reporting by Natalie Hughes

From the November 2026 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will analyze a text that presents arguments on both sides of a debate, then take a stand.

Lexile: 1020L

Featured Skill: Argument Writing,

Standards

Listen to this debate read aloud.

Is Olivia Rodrigo happy? She certainly looks happy, commanding the stage and gliding down the red carpet, surrounded by starstruck fans and eager photographers. And why wouldn’t she be? She spends her days doing what she loves. She earns millions of dollars performing for sold-out crowds. Plus, she gets amazing perks, like free designer clothes, front-row seats at prestigious award shows, and trips around the world.

But wait. If being a celebrity is so great, why do so many of them seem to, well, crash out? Take Justin Bieber. By age 16, he was cranking out chart-topping hits and earning millions of dollars on sold-out concert tours. However, by 20, Bieber was spending most of his time apologizing for his bad behavior. He was arrested for drunk driving and charged with vandalism, and he bailed on multiple shows.

Or look at Miley Cyrus. After becoming a Disney Channel superstar at a young age, Cyrus went through a turbulent period filled with controversial performances and negative headlines.

Both stars eventually found their footing again. Yet they still talk openly about the stress of navigating life in the public eye and how it has affected their mental health. “That kind of pressure leaves wounds you don’t see onstage,” Bieber has said.

Celebrity Lifestyle

Turns out, the excitement that comes from fame is fleeting. “It’s the kind of happiness you get when you buy a new outfit or finally get your first smartphone,” explains Laurie Santos, a psychologist who specializes in the science of happiness. “It feels great at first, but before long, it just starts to feel normal.”

So what does bring lasting fulfillment? According to an 85-year-long study from Harvard University, true happiness derives from having close relationships, time to focus on personal growth, and connections to your community. The celebrity lifestyle can make those things extremely difficult.

Celebrities do have friends, though, right?

Of course. But according to Santos, it can be difficult for a celebrity to trust others and to make and keep true friends. Stars have to wonder if their “friends” like them for who they are or for what they can offer—like a ride to Italy on a private jet or access to more social media followers.

A Lot of Stress

To outsiders, constant attention might seem glamorous. In reality, though, it brings an enormous amount of stress and pressure. MrBeast, for example, has said that while he loves creating videos, “no one wants to live the life I live.”

For many celebrities, that stress doesn’t stop when the cameras cut or when they step off the stage. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Billie Eilish said that one of the hardest parts of fame is losing the freedom to do ordinary things.

Indeed, famous people can’t so much as walk their dogs or tie their shoes without being gawked at, photographed, recorded for TikTok, or Instagrammed.

Holding Steady

Clearly, not all stars crumble under the pressures of fame. Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Holland, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez—all of whom were famous as teens—seem to be doing fine.

Rodrigo is holding steady too, though she has had to deal with plenty of challenges. She has faced persistent online criticism about her appearance and her personal life and has spoken openly about finding ways to protect her mental health.

So perhaps you should consider yourself lucky that your big night out is a slumber party with your best friends and that your biggest fan is your grandma.