Does Money Equal Power?

In thinking of power, I can't help but think: does money equal power?

People want to know who has money and how much or #Forbes wouldn't be publishing about it every year, right? Usually, the head person at an organization makes the most money not because of seniority (being there the longest) but because they are the head person. People who give money to others set expectations of behavior and restrictions on how that person/organization can act and/or use the money which is powerful, right?

Perhaps the picture above would be more accurate if it showed the "big man" with puppet strings to each person while he poured money over them.

Often, there are hard feelings from the person giving the money and the one receiving it - maybe they feel controlled because they accepted money. Maybe the giver feels like they weren't appreciated and wanted to gain more control? Is it really power if the only way you could get it was by paying for it? Does the means not matter as long as you got what you wanted? Does getting what you want power?

Yes, people who have money can buy who and what they want. But often, those people are not well-liked. If their money disappeared tomorrow would they find themselves alone? Many wealthy people I know are very lonely.

Photo credit: https://goo.gl/images/FRjbEM

Money may mean ease. Not scrambling to pay bills. Not worrying how you're going to buy food or afford a place to live. It may allow you to help others or design the life you've always imagined. But money doesn't protect you from the bad, and often, can drive away the good that less complicated lives have.

I don't think money equals power. What about you?