Vanessa Mdee explains why money and luxury no longer define her success

Tanzanian singer Vanessa Mdee has opened up about her changing definition of wealth, saying true success goes beyond the designer bags, expensive cars and jewellery people can see.

In an Instagram video on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Mdee said she enjoys luxury items, including designer handbags, but no longer feels the need to own them to prove that she has achieved success.

“I’m a multi-millionaire, and I don’t own a Birkin,” she said.

Wealth beyond material things

Mdee acknowledged that there is nothing wrong with enjoying expensive possessions, saying she likes nice things. However, she said her priorities have changed as she has grown older.

“The older I get, the more I realise that the things that make me feel the wealthiest are not things that you’ll see on this Instagram,” she said.

According to Mdee, having control over her time, being present with her family and maintaining good health are among the things she now considers valuable.

She also highlighted the ability to help others, build businesses that her children could potentially inherit and enjoy peace and personal freedom.

“Having control of time, being able to be present with my family, health, being able to help others and give back, building businesses that my children could potentially inherit, having peace, having choices,” Mdee said.

‘Don’t confuse wealth with its symbols’

Mdee stressed that her comments were not an attack on luxury or people who enjoy high-end products.

She encouraged people to buy the designer bags, wear expensive watches and drive luxury cars if those things genuinely make them happy.

“Buy the Birkin, babe. Buy the Birkin. Wear the Rolex. Buy the car. In fact, I might do all three tomorrow,” she said.

However, she warned against confusing visible signs of wealth with wealth itself.

“The point is, don’t confuse the evidence of wealth with wealth,” Mdee said.

She also urged people not to measure their own success against the material possessions of others, noting that genuine success may be found in things that cannot easily be displayed on social media.

Mdee concluded that luxury, for her, is increasingly about having the freedom to choose what matters personally rather than following what others consider successful.

“Maybe luxury is actually having the freedom to choose what matters to you. Not because other people are doing it, but because it matters to you,” she said.

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