>GP said their grandfather died a multimillionaire. That money can go to his children; managed well over their lifetime it will double several times over.
The point is, is it worth it if you do not get to enjoy even a part of that at all? What if you don't have children? Assuming there is nothing after death, the personal result of being a penny pinching millionaire vs. just not having that much money at all would be the same.
Your assumption is that cheap living equals unhappiness/misery/etc whereas most unhappiness is caused by the uncertainty of not knowing where your next meal is coming from.
Presumably he had a good family/friends, which is what matters, no?
Investing in your family's future is an incredibly noble/selfless thing to do, it takes real character.
The point is, is it worth it if you do not get to enjoy even a part of that at all? What if you don't have children? Assuming there is nothing after death, the personal result of being a penny pinching millionaire vs. just not having that much money at all would be the same.