A recent tweet by Rhyen Staley, posted on July 20, 2025, has reignited discussions surrounding the idea that happiness can be found in a state of owning nothing. Staley's tweet stated, > “Happiness ‘experts’ now state that those who ‘own nothing’ are the happiest,” bringing to the forefront a concept that has been widely debated in recent years. This sentiment closely mirrors a controversial phrase popularized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2016.
The phrase "You'll own nothing and be happy" originated from a 2016 essay titled "Welcome to 2030: I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better," written by Danish MP Ida Auken and published on the WEF's website. The essay was a thought experiment exploring a future society heavily reliant on the sharing economy and services rather than traditional ownership of goods. It envisioned a world where products are transformed into services, promoting durability and recyclability.
The WEF later featured a video in 2016 summarizing eight predictions for 2030, which included the line "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy." This particular prediction, derived from Auken's piece, aimed to illustrate potential societal shifts towards a circular economy and reduced consumption. The underlying idea was that access to services and shared resources could lead to a more sustainable and potentially fulfilling lifestyle.
However, the phrase was widely taken out of context, particularly gaining traction among critics and conspiracy theorists who linked it to the WEF's "Great Reset" initiative. These interpretations often suggested a dystopian agenda by the WEF to strip individuals of private property. The narrative implied a forced relinquishment of assets rather than a voluntary embrace of a sharing economy.
In response to widespread misinterpretation, the World Economic Forum has repeatedly clarified that it does not have a stated goal for individuals to "own nothing." Organizations like Reuters have fact-checked these claims, confirming that the WEF's intent was to present a hypothetical future scenario within the context of the sharing economy. Staley's recent tweet, while not directly referencing the WEF, taps into this pre-existing and often misunderstood narrative about happiness and ownership.