How much time can money buy at the end of life? Does the story of gambling king Stanley Ho reveal a harsh reality for us?
Hong Kong, the shining pearl of the Orient, has given birth to countless legends.
Among them, there is a name that is thunderous - Stanley Ho.
The life trajectory of this gambling king is like a movie with ups and downs.
From a rich boy to a self-made man, from calling for wind and rain to wrestling with death, Stanley Ho's life is full of drama.
However, in the last 11 years of his life, an amazing "money for life" drama was staged.
In 2009, an unexpected fall pushed Stanley Ho, who was nearly ninety years old, to the brink of life.
The doctor at that time gave a pessimistic prediction, believing that the gambling king may not have much time.
However, Stanley Ho's family was not willing to give up.
They began an unprecedented "life-renewing" operation.
First of all, they invited the famous White Dragon King.
This mysterious figure is said to be able to predict the future and change fate.
In order to invite the White Dragon King, the He family did not hesitate to spend 5 million yuan.
This number may be astronomical for ordinary people, but for the He family, it is just a drop in the bucket.
A miracle happened, and after the operation of the White Dragon King, the dying Stanley Ho woke up.
This scene seems to be a realistic version of "coming back to life".
However, this is only the beginning of Operation "Life Extension".
In order to ensure Stanley Ho's health, the Ho family began a global search for the best medical equipment and specialists.
They even spared no expense to build a private exclusive care hospital just to take care of the gambling king.
This kind of specification may be difficult for even the head of state to achieve.
However, what is really jaw-dropping is the miraculous "brain tonic fluid".
This drug is said to promote the regeneration of brain cells, which leads to a longer lifespan.
However, its price is as high as 860,000 yuan a shot.
For the average person, this is undoubtedly an astronomical amount.
But for Stanley Ho, that's just a drop in the bucket.
He did not hesitate to choose to use this drug.
The expenditure of 860,000 yuan a day is as simple for him as an ordinary person taking out 5 yuan from 100,000 yuan.
In this way, Stanley Ho stubbornly exchanged money for 11 years of life.
In the past 11 years, medical expenses alone have reached about 1.4 billion yuan.
This number is enough to make people sigh: it turns out that money can really make ghosts grind!
However, even with such an astonishing investment, Stanley Ho still couldn't escape death in the end.
In 2020, the legend passed away at the age of 98.
The death of Stanley Ho not only ended an era, but also left us with deep thoughts.
Can money really buy everything?
The answer seems to be yes, and it seems to be no.
Stanley Ho's story teaches us that money does prolong life to some extent.
But at the same time, it also reveals a harsh reality: even if you have billions of dollars, you can't escape the end of your life in the end.
The scene after Stanley Ho's death is even more amazing.
His funeral is comparable to the specifications of the Empress Dowager Cixi.
A single coffin made of golden silk nanmu is worth 8 million Hong Kong dollars.
This wood is more precious than diamonds and is often used only by royal aristocrats.
The flowers at the funeral were airlifted by plane, and the cost was as high as 2 million yuan.
Even the burial place is worth 300,000 Hong Kong dollars per square meter.
This level of luxury is reminiscent of the funeral of the Empress Dowager Cixi.
At that time, Cixi had a priceless night pearl in her mouth, and her shroud was decorated with pearls and made of gold thread.
And Stanley Ho's funeral seems to be even better.
This kind of luxury, for ordinary people, is simply unimaginable.
We have worked all our lives, and we may not be able to reach the value of his coffin.
However, behind this luxury, should we think about some deeper questions?
Can money really bring happiness and longevity?
Stanley Ho's life is undoubtedly legendary.
From a rich second generation to a self-made man, from a casino tycoon to four wives and four concubines, his life experience is wonderful.
But at the end of his life, even with a fortune of hundreds of millions, he still could not escape the torture of illness.
Does this mean that health is the most valuable asset in life?
As the old saying goes: "It is difficult to buy a healthy body, and a day without disease is a good day." "
This sentence seems to be best interpreted in Stanley Ho's story.
Although he exchanged money for 11 years of life, is he really happy in these 11 years?
We don't know.
But what is certain is that even billionaires cannot escape the natural laws of birth, old age, sickness and death.
Stanley Ho's story left us with deep thoughts.
It teaches us that money is important, but health is even more priceless.
In the pursuit of wealth, should we also pay more attention to our physical health?
After all, without health, no amount of money can enjoy the beauty of life.
Stanley Ho's death also sounded the alarm for us.
Life is finite, and whether you are rich or poor, you will eventually face death.
So, how should we live our limited lives?
Is it like Stanley Ho, who uses money to exchange every minute and every second?
Or should we cherish the present more and live our own wonderful life?
This question is worth pondering for everyone.
Stanley Ho's story may become an eternal topic.
It is not only a legend of a rich man, but also a mirror that reflects the deepest desires and fears of each of us.
In this materialistic age, should we re-examine our values?
Do you continue to chase money and material comforts, or do you focus more on the quality and meaning of life?
There is no standard answer to this question.
Everyone needs to find their own balance on their own path in life.
Finally, we can't help but ask: if life can be measured in money, then what is the point of it? In the pursuit of longevity, do we neglect the quality and value of life? This question may be worth pondering for each of us.