The lives of the rich and sad
Ever wonder what it might be like to be really rich? Not going to happen? Well, have a look at the most recent issue of The Atlantic and you may feel a bit better.
“The Secret Fears of the Super Rich” delves into the results of revealing study of the very rich (in this instance, folks with a net worth of more than $25 million) from Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy.
Paul Schervish, a sociology professor and the college's director, has been studying the lives and philanthropic habits of the super-wealthy for some time now.
And, guess what, they’re just like that nervous guy next door, exhibiting a surprising litany of anxieties including their sense of isolation, their worries about work and love, and most of all, their fears for their children.
At its core, the survey underlines the fact that while money may ease some worries, others always remain. Most of the uber-rich still don’t consider themselves financially secure, for instance. For that, they say, they would require on average one-quarter more wealth than they currently possess.
Well, who wouldn’t?
But too many dollars, can create problems maybe every bit as psychologically unsettling as too few, the results suggest. One example: Many super rich don’t look forward to holidays, because they’re “always expected to give really good presents.”
Taken together, “the survey responses make a compelling case that being fantastically wealthy — especially when the wealth is inherited rather than earned — is not a great deal more fulfilling than being merely prosperous. Among other woes, the respondents report feeling that they have lost the right to complain about anything, for fear of sounding — or being — ungrateful….”
Can you identify at all? Even if you're merely affluent, do you worry this way? Or is this all simply a nice problem to have?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
* Follow Gordon on Twitter here.
Posted by: Pinto | May 25, 2021 1:00:15 PM
Wow, I love how some of you in the higher tax brackets seem to think the lower class are entitled little shits who feel they should be supported by those more fortunate, and that all their problems could be solved by "getting off their lazy asses." I grew up in a single parent hosuehold, supported by social assistance. I was orphaned at seventeen, afterwhich I spent two years on student loans pursuing a career I loved, but sadly didn't pay the bills. I've always felt like I was born without even a chance to do as well as some of you take for granted. Now as a young adult with a husband, and daughter at home, I work fulltime hours just to feed and house my family. We were doing alright (ie, bills paid, food in the firdge, and a little extra to enjoy ourselves with) up until this past spring when my husband lost his fulltime job, and ever since, it's been a constant struggle. I'm no stranger to food banks, and I absolutely refuse to play the welfare game, simply because of the attitudes some of you have shown here. I know very well just how much you people pay in taxes, because those taxes were my mother's livelihood growing up. And believe you me, I remember the debt I owe you.
Anybody who suggests a minimum wage worker take some of that check and save for college has never been in a position remotely close to ours. Anyone who thinks my situation is a result of "sitting on my ass," needs to get a reality check. I work forty hours a week, in a service industry position. The skills I use may be different from the skills you use, but understand it is stressful, hard, exhausting job, made worse by people like you who think that people like me exist solely to take your daily frustrations out on over a cup of coffee. Beyond my fulltime job, and the overtime job that is being a parent, it's work all in itself, trying to stretch minimum wage income over the costs of raising a family. I do my very best, and get nowhere because of attitudes like those shown here, attitudes of ignorance, arrogance, and entitlement.
Posted by: Dr. J. S | Jul 18, 2021 9:42:47 PM
@KNOCK KNOCK, WHO'S THERE, REALITY ... The statement "How dare you .... " should not be followed by a question mark, since it clearly was not a question. I guess you were just too stupid to realize that! ... Or should that have been followed by a question mark?
Posted by: Anna | Jul 19, 2021 8:57:38 AM
@ KNOCK KNOCK, WHO'S THERE, REALITY, you are quite the piece of work. So the best you can do in reply to Dr. J. S. is comment about the use of a question mark? What makes this even more sad is that you couldn't even get that right! Go back and finish grade 3.