Jerry Seinfeld has a new movie coming out on Netflix, and naturally, has been on an all out media blitz to promote his film.
One of these came in the form of a podcast with Neal Brennan. The two are close friends, and Seinfeld was clearly comfortable to share some life advice and commentary on todays society.
One of these was a reflection on how the culture of money changed dramatically in the 1980s:
“In the seventies, this is the tragic turn of American culture. And this was explained to me by Mario Joiner who cracked this puzzle that I could not figure out what the hell happened. That money became everything.
What happened because it was not like that in the seventies. In the seventies, it’s how cool is your job? How cool is what you’re doing? If your job’s cooler than my job, you beat me… And Mario Joiner explained this to me. He said the eighties was the first time that young guys could make a lot of money fast.
Never existed before. Rich guys were Aristotle Onassis, Andrew Carnegie, shipping, iron. You couldn’t make a lot of money fast in those days.
And it has poisoned our culture to this day. It’s poison.”
The Wall Street Journal conducted a poll showing a decline in the importance of patriotism, religion, having children, and community involvement among Americans. Conversely, the significance placed on money has continued to rise. It matches up to what Seinfeld was saying.

It’s crucial to approach surveys with some skepticism, but there’s no denying that money has increasingly replaced the institutions valued by previous generations. Church membership trends in the United States reflect this cultural shift

Most people instinctively understand Seinfeld’s theory: Americans are obsessed with money. This obsession has its upsides and downsides—it can be both a source of greatness and misery.
I’m not saying money isn’t important. It undeniably provides security, comfort, health, and a better standard of living. While money might not buy happiness, it certainly helps avoid misery if you have enough. The problem arises when money becomes the sole focus, unable to fill the deeper voids in our lives.
Seinfeld offers a solution to the pitfalls of money culture: fulfilling work.
“I had a bunch of kids around the table last night… some of them are starting to work. I said, if your work is unfulfilling, the money will be too.”
I like that advice. It makes a lot of sense.
As we navigate our own financial journeys, let’s remember that while money is essential, it’s not everything. Fulfilment and meaningful work are the true antidotes to the allure of money.