Wealthy People Admit What it’s Really Like to Be Rich

One of the low points for those who find themselves high up on the (financial) food chain is a sense of loneliness. A recurring theme throughout the replies, many users noted that having access to the best of everything often attracts people into their orbit for the wrong reasons.

Not surprisingly, some users mentioned that they prefer to hide their financial status to avoid attracting attention, feeling that it can be difficult to know if people have your best interest at heart, or are really interested in your money. One user mentioned that a wealthy friend of his who won millions in the lottery but prefers to keep a “low profile,” while another notes that he feels he has some good friendships, but makes a point never to discuss his finances.

Reddit users spanned countless material benefits to their wealthy status; citing vacations, private planes, gourmet food and high-end toys as some of the top perks of being in the higher pay-bracket. Being able to spend money without really having to think about it was a popular comment.

Throughout the thread, one of the most recurring points is stress – or rather, a lack-of – owing to their cash flow. Wealthy users commented on how not having to worry about money allows them to enjoy life more, operate on a flexible schedule, and reserve that headspace for things that bring them joy, rather than stress them out.

A healthy bank account can sometimes be used for the greater good, as some added to the thread points like being able to help family and friends financially, adopting shelter animals, and just generally being able to lend support (not necessarily financially) to those in need.

On one of the threads, a user talked about the pressures his wealthy friend faced growing up with a father who amassed his fortune from honest hard work. Pointing out that, although his friend could enjoy a life of luxury on his dad’s dollar, he prefers to work and make his own way; feeling the pressure to make a life of his own in order to live up to his father’s legacy. Being born into wealth can often translate to higher expectations than you might expect; with the pressure of finding success being on a bigger scale than others might face.

Several replies to these threads identified with feeling “disconnected” from others; not simply because of trust issues, but more so a consequence of not being able to relate to others outside of their bracket, and vice versa. Commonly noted was that many wealthy users found it easier to connect with people who grew up in similar circles, citing that it can be tough to find common ground with people who can’t understand such a different scope of life.

One of the biggest perks to being rich? Not having to worry as much about the future. There is endless job security in knowing you never have to have one, and when bills are no problem – there’s little the future can throw at you that you won’t be able to throw money back at. Sure, you can’t buy good health – but you can afford the best private healthcare the world has to offer.

When you’re apart of the wealthy-elite, things generally come easy, but as some users noted, motivation can be harder to come by. When you want for nothing, it can be hard to find the internal drive to do more with yourself than just what’s readily available.

While it’s hard to feel too sympathetic toward the plight of the rich, it can be easy to get carried away with our own assumptions for what a wealthy life might mean. Affluent users wrote about trying to lead “normal” lives but finding judgment and criticisms from people who felt they were entitled to comment on how much – or how little – they ought to be spending. Some posts expressed frustration at the fact that their financial status either meant they would be labeled as a snob or a scrooge right off the bat. To sum it up: don’t judge a book (or a billionaire) by its cover!