How Wealth Changes People

Did you know that statistically, on average, wealthier people tend to be more selfish, less empathic, more narcissistic, less ethical, and have stronger feelings of entitlement? If you've ever worked in a service industry or been to an airport, then you probably do know that. Do all millionaires and billionaires think the same? Does wealth affect biology?

Here I'm talking about how wealth can affect human psychology, according to science.

Some clips are taken from "Born Rich" by Jamie Johnson, which is a very interesting documentary and can be found on YouTube here:

Interesting reads:

[killerqueen]

This reminds me of Kendall Jenner saying just a few weeks ago that she never benefitted from her family name and had to work from the ground up to become a model. This video clearly explains the delusional state that wealthy people live in. In her case specifically, she already had the connections to get into that industry, she had the money for the surgical enhancements and the possibility to enter modelling classes. The average woman does not. So to think that she just "worked hard" to get there while ignoring every privilege that her family's inmense wealth has gotten her speaks volumes. The sad part is that a lot of average people worship the wealthy, thus adding to the sense of entitlement that they ALREADY have.

[J_Stronsky]

Regarding the 'more likely to break road rules' thing. I reckon this is largely due to there being reduced consequences to your actions when the punishment is usually a fine and you have enough money to not give a shit.
That's why the Norwegian system of issuing fines proportionally, based on income, strikes me as not just fairer but actually just more effective at enforcing the law.

[NILS]

I once did my civil protection hours at a horse race event thing (those where they hop over obstacles), I was pulling parking lot guard duty, which consisted of me keeping anybody out without a permit for their car. Some young rich lady whose dad had a camper parked inside did not accept that I could not let her in without a card for her car, so she literally drove at me and made me fall on her car and then back on the pavement. I did not get injured too badly (though my hands were bleeding and my shins banged up), and she got forced to apologise to me by my superior and the race organizers, but she really behaved ruthlessly towards a poor sod that at the end of the day was just doing his job. This experience will never leave me, and it taught me how shit and below consideration the wealthy can treat you.

[invadervim]

you always hear about how Jeff Bezos started Amazon in his garage, but not about the $250, 000 his parents gave him.

[nakenmil]

There's a Max Weber (one of the founders of sociology in the early 1900s) quote that goes a bit like this (after memory): "In every social order, those at the top have a ceaseless, intense need to justify and legitimize why they are at the top."

[silverblue]

This happens on a micro scale for the poor every payday, there's about 5 minutes before paying bills where you're on top of the world

[AlanGohel]

Hearing how Jeff Bezos’ laugh has changed as he accumulated his massive fortune is bewildering, and testament to this thesis. He started off as a normal sounding guy and now he laughs like a supervillain.

[hemidas]

To test a man's character, give him power (and money is power).

[patson]

I'm in my 30s and I watched several acquaintances and friends of mine rise up to some extent of money. Mostly by getting into their parent's businesses (of course at the top, not the bottom) or by marrying into such households. And keep in mind that I don't talk about billionaires or super rich. That is a whole different story.

But event at this level of richness, it is stunning and saddening at the same time to watch how these people change over just a few years. They start as humble fellows with some kind of realistic view of the world. As the years go by you can literally see, hear, and feel how they lie to themselves and all of that humbleness fades away. That they're 200k+ salary per year is a pure result of their own efforts, their education, and their expertise. Other just simply didn't work hard enough or aren't that smart. The thought that they simply got lucky never even crosses their minds.

[PadHicks]

Sometimes I worry I'm narcissistic, then I meet a narcissist and realise that I'm all good.

[mrjonnyburkecovers]

I'm willing to test these theories if someone wants to fund me

[frozenbinarystudio]

I work in tech.

I was homeless, I had to claw my way out, work exceptionally hard, train harder than anyone else had to get a chance to get into my industry on pure merit, and continue to train exceptionally harder to stay here.

My skill and discipline are unequalled due to my endurance and experience.

I have kids half my age dare turn their nose up at me because my parents didn't have money to pay for a degree. A degree I do not have, as I am self taught.

I get nothing but disrespect from the haves, who look upon me with utter contempt for my skills I earned the hard way. Ironically they covet my ability, yet could never comprehend the sacrifice it took to get it.

[grain]

To be fair, Monopoly is totally random and bullshit whenever I play that game, except when I win then I am a titan of industry who deserved to bankrupt my parents when they land on my hotels

[rethgual]

I went to a boarding school with some kids who had rich parents - so they were born into the “rich” world and never really had to work for their money. Let me tell you: they were all living in a completely different reality. Most things didn’t really have value to them. We were living together and one of my classmates wanted to throw the dishes away because she didn’t wanna clean them - so she asked me if she should just buy new plates the next day because she didn’t feel like cleaning the ones we had used. Or when we’d go out she’d always order a taxi no matter how short the distance was - just cause she didn’t feel like walking home.
Designer handbags and fancy clothes are one thing - but it’s those little things that let you know how vastly different our day-to-day life can really be.
But on the contrary: I had been friends with a girl who also had rich parents and even though she also didn’t really know the value of money, she was nice, kind and never judged others for having less than her. Yes - she was kind of blind to my reality of life but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a good person.
I’m actually glad I grew up having to earn my own money on the side if I wanted to buy something nice for myself. My parents taught me that things have value… you learn to appreciate everything way more, even the littlest things and it makes life more multi-faceted in my opinion. Gratitude is a good thing! Life must be boring if everything is just handed to you on a silver platter…
I think that there really are different realities for people - having lots of money means power and also: endless opportunities. But where’s the fun if you have all of that to begin with. I think life is a game and games are boring if you never have to sacrifice anything and are just declared as the “winner” from the start. The journey and the challenges you have to face along the way are what really makes life interesting imo.

[qty]

I think that the most interesting experience in my life was when I talked to a guy who was friends with a newly wealthy and famous person who described how it changed him. Our conversation went like this:

Him: "He's not fun anymore. He only cares about his numbers."
Me: "What do you mean?"
Him: "He's obsessed with making his big numbers even bigger. More viewers on his webpage and more money. All he does all day is look at his numbers, and if they aren't growing he becomes depressed and angry. He then calls his employees, team, and friends and asks them what he can do to make his numbers bigger. It's exhausting to deal with him because his entire life revolves around his numbers."

[heavysystemsinc.]

There was a short comic about a super rich royalty dude that was tired of his servants waiting on him hand and foot for everything, and he found a guy that looked just like him so he could switch places with him that was a 'normal dude'. The normal dude kept having servants come in and 'test' all of his foods, his bed, etc. for poison because the rich dude had enemies. Then he freaked out when servants came in to wipe his ass after he took a dump. After a day of this we bolted out and went to find the rich dude he traded places with, who was in a public bathroom the whole time waiting/expecting someone to wipe his ass.

[andyi]

They say money doesn’t change you, it just reveals who you really are

[Bluebuthappy]

Kind of unrelated, but not really, I remember seeing a documentary on modern art and one artist was saying his work was selling very well. But he knew the people buying didn't actually like his stuff. They bought it because they had been told by their highly paid art adviser what this piece of art would appreciate so that's what they bought. What they actually liked had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately I can't remember the artists name but i do remember him saying, "You're talking about people who wouldn't buy anything if they weren't sure they couldn't sell it on for a profit."

[MrLeighman]

One thing I have noticed about the rich is they sometimes justify themselves by liking to appear morally superior. I had one client whom was quite wealthy once suggest to me that I should show gratitude and be thankful for what I have got. Now I entirely agree with this statement but coming from a client whom I was working for that was considerably wealthy, did not really pack a punch to me. Coming from her the statement smelt of hypocrisy!

[harrymills]

Had a rich friend for many years. Went out to eat all the time. He'd calculate a tip based on his own set of criteria. I, on the other hand, could seldom afford to go out. When I did, I tipped everyone 20% and above. Always stayed within my means. I wouldn't go out if I couldn't afford to be generous.

I doubt I'll ever be very rich, but even if I did, I'd still rather hang out with regular folks than the hoity-toity kind. That's probably why I'll never be super rich.