A Nigerian man has recounted his intense emotional and physical reaction after receiving a staggering sum of N147 million in cash eight years ago, with his story now going viral on social media platforms.
Man Details Overwhelming Experience with Sudden Wealth
Identified as @Dr Komolafe on X, the man shared a photo of bundles of cash while explaining that the money came from the sale of an inherited property. According to his tweet, the sudden influx of N147 million brought more stress than joy, leading to severe restlessness and health issues.
In his own words, he stated: "The first time I saw money, I meant real money in my life was 8 years ago when I sold an inherited property and I was paid in cash, 147 million Naira. I discovered I can't sleep again, I became restless, I was visiting toilet without eating, I was later admitted in the hospital."
Social Media Erupts with Similar Stories of Unexpected Wealth
His tweet sparked massive reactions from Nigerians, with many users sharing their own experiences of dealing with unexpected large sums of money. Chizoba Samuel commented: "I can definitely relate. It happened to me few years back when I had my major breakthrough via freelancing. Having a ton of money lying idle even after taking care of lots of need. It's therapeutic!"
Other users recounted similar tales of financial windfalls. Victoh shared: "Bro 2021 a coin I bought for 15$ dipped to 6$ one Sunday morning I woke up and saw it had pumped to $500+ I couldn’t sleep again." Chidimma added: "That's why it's only natural and better to make money in graded steps. There is a spirit behind money that can lead to mental, emotional, social, spiritual and even physical instability. When you make it frequently, you get used to it and don't feel too overwhelmed."
Additional Reactions Highlight Broader Experiences
Further comments poured in, illustrating diverse scenarios. Kay wrote: "My first big money was when I won 350k with sport betting back in 2019 as the game remained last game I was just trekking around the area like a mad man that year, I won the game I couldn't sleep that night imagine your salary at a new job was 25k." Wrlnn said: "Similar thing happened to me back in 2024 when I was about to win a sport bet of 888k with 300 stake, my last game was going smoothly as well but i was restless and had to visit the toilet first then immediately it boom I started shouting and people around me thought I’ve run mad."
Razaq reacted: "The first time my savings account receive the alert that it cross 1M, it was in 2012. I ran out of my hotel and ran back inside. All this happen within 10 seconds. I knew what I felt that day." Julio added: "In 2013, after my contract got elapsed working offshore and I was paid 21M, I couldn’t even eat or drink for days. It get to a point where even to talk or respond to my siblings was a problem."
Eziashi commented: "Reminds me of when I was in high school over 12 years ago and my father gave me 100k to buy iPad. I was so paranoid. It almost felt like everyone knew I had that money on me. I was scared from the moment I left my house till I got to the Apple vendor." Ozer concluded: "Back in 2019 when I was working in a pharmacy warehouse, my boss handed me #84 million cash inside one bag like that, to deposit at a nearby bank. Omo, I stayed almost 4 hours in the bulk room while they counted everything. That whole month, my mental health no be here at all."
Broader Context of Financial Windfalls in Nigeria
This viral story highlights a common phenomenon where sudden wealth can lead to psychological and physical distress, rather than immediate happiness. The reactions underscore how many Nigerians face similar challenges when encountering large sums of money unexpectedly, whether through inheritance, investments, or other means.
The post has drawn attention to the mental health aspects of financial windfalls, prompting discussions about better ways to manage such situations. It also ties into broader narratives about wealth accumulation and its impacts on individuals in contemporary Nigerian society.
