Our Love-Hate Relationship With Rich People

You can’t look away

One day, I found myself halfway through an article about people on private jets when I realized I didn’t like my behavior.

It was basically a gossip column, names removed for privacy. But I hate gossip. Right? Except…who doesn’t get a little curious about what the ultra rich do with all that money?

All of us want the money. None of us want to become the people. We vow to never “be like that” should fortune favor us.

So. Do you just start out “like that”?

Honestly. Does it take a certain kind of person to become ridiculously wealthy or does being ridiculously wealthy turn you into a certain kind of person?

Nature and nurture all over again.

Are rich people unhappy? We like to think they are. We like to say wealth does not buy happiness and point out every time a rich person goes to rehab or kills themselves as proof.

At the same time, we know that having so much money would definitely help our own happiness. So much less stress. So much more freedom.

We hate them. They are disconnected from reality. They are assholes. They are greedy. They are bad bad bad.

Except

We also want to be them. We would remember where we came from. We would be in touch. We would be kind and humble. We would give willingly. We would be good good good.

Every time we glimpse a rich or famous person with these human traits that only we could possess, we praise them even more for being so unusual in their position.

But maybe most are that way. Maybe most people with money are in the background of our lives. Living peacefully. Donating to charity. Smiling as we pass them on the street.

I think money does change us in many ways, but not all. Maybe the full shift is not possible to understand until you are on the other side.

For now, we will continue to watch. Curious. Intrigued. Disgusted. Delighted.