Whether you earn a lot of money or it falls into your lap (inherit, lotto)... if money changes you into a jerk or destroys your life, you were lame to begin with. The money just brought it out.
Hmmm... can't imagine money making me more non-materialistic. There was a time in my life when if I had enough money for beer, tennis balls and dog food, I was good.
Money is just energy. Neutral by itself. How to use it is up to a person. IMO money is great freedom and ability to do a lot vs. no money. It's like you being strong vs. weak. Physical strength can also be used for good or bad, but would anyone prefer to be weak?
fully agree about what money brings : extra form of energy, a certain kind of freedom, an enabling resource. But just know that some boxers make the choice to eat less so as to compete in a "lighter" category. Some prefer competing in "feather weight" for instance.
True, but that's more a tactical maneuver to compete with potentially weaker opponents rather than deliberate resistance to gain something. Why would anyone (unless with a proven mental/emotional pathology, which makes it simply dangerous) agree to possess less of power (assuming it comes without extra price to pay)? My experience as psychologist shows that's mostly rationalization of a failure rather than true belief that "money is evil".