43 Things Wealthy People Considered Totally Normal That Left Their Friends Stunned

20k is not a lot of money.

Middle school. One of my friend's family was in the Mexican oil business. Money all over the place. He had 10 maids, etc.

He slept over at my place (regular, upper middle class 3 bed 3 bath home) once and for breakfast we had cereal. The box was unopened, and I handed it to him to open while I got some bowls.

He stared at it confused for a bit then just ripped it open, brute force caveman style. Turns out he'd never opened a box of cereal himself so he had no idea how to do it properly.

Women from old money usually have very silly nick names that end with a "y" sound.

Her name may be Henrietta Woodford, but everyone calls her Dolly or Poppy.

I grew up rubbing shoulders with old money people in the most old money part of New England. Most of them just spend all day gossiping or reminiscing about times when they've gossiped. What always gets me is the insane level of enthusiasm they have while talking to you about this petty stuff. Like it's the most exciting thing in the world that they're letting you in on.

Also, none of them call their houses by address, it's always the Watermelin or The Mount.

I know I billionaire, and he casually talked about how you buy politicians.

The short version is that you invest a small amount in the beginning of a hundred different politicians from both sides. Then you double down on the winners. In the end you have 20-40 individuals in congress that pick up your phone calls, and remember you as someone who “was with me from the beginning.”

You probably spend $20k x 80 on the losers, so $1.6 million. And about $200k each on the winners. So $4-8 million. So for under $10million total you cer that meant congressmen.

I have three wealthy friends and they are obsessively mindful of their money, almost to the penny. I don’t know if it’s some kind of hoarder mentality. Aside from that quirk, they’re wonderful people.

They all own properties, and they seemingly have one everywhere. Like a condo in Miami so that they can stay for a couple months in the winter. And when they aren't here they just have it looked after by someone, it doesn't get rented out.

Business class flights as a punishment.

Comparing which planes first class is better.

$5,000 weekly allowance and they are struggling + maid + orchard road condo in Singapore.

That whole conversation flew past my head.

I fly private jets. “Sir do NOT put aluminum foil in the microwave!” As I’m getting up to stop a fire.

They have just as many problems as non-rich folk, it's just their problems don't revolve around money. Many have more problems. People with money problems think all their problems would go away if they just had more money.

Still being greedy and trying to save a dime here and there.

This will probably get downvoted but how normal they remained. I have a lot of rich friends (some are now worth hundreds of millions) b/c I live near Silicon Valley but they all grew up middle class or lower. I thought once they got money they'd go nuts, but nope. If you didn't know they were super rich you'd never really know. The only thing they spent a lot of money on is housing, but that may be more due to the extreme cost of housing around here. The houses would look pretty normal anywhere else. One did buy a regular Porsche 911, but otherwise they drive Toyotas or Lexus, etc. They do always pick up the check though.

Or maybe they act that way around me b/c I'm not rich at all. Perhaps when they get together without me they jump in champagne filled swimming pools.

Their quality of life was so much higher than the rest of us, it was insane. They had no idea how difficult it was living outside that wealth bubble. Because of that, they thought most people were just irresponsible with their savings. It never occurred to them that most people could not afford to save money. .

Ordinary people think being rich means buying expensive stuff.

Truly rich people view money as a cheat code to delete minor daily inconveniences.

I witnessed someone purchase a $250k G-Wagen and only at delivery say "Oh, it's an EV. Cool!".

A lot of them are genuinely super unhappy. I've seen little difference in their ability to be confident in the world: the main exception is that they are comfortable being around other rich people. They feel accepted in that world and they understand it. But they are just as likely to be insecure, depressed, anxious, as regular Joes from what I can tell.

I have one friend who is extremely wealthy. Before she was wealthy, she was depressed, insecure, and worried about money. Now she's rich, depressed, insecure, and worried about money.

I've worked with executives who are as petty and insecure as some of the frat bros I knew in college.

It's made me appreciate people who tried to mentor or be a parental figure to me more. Wherever, you go, there you are. Whether you have 10 MM dollars in your bank account or 10 thousand, you take your entire lifetime of experience with you. For some people, it feels like a prison, rich or not.

“I forgot my wallet,” for the hundredth time.

My best friend growing up was extremely wealthy and money was a foreign concept to him. Subsequently he always forgot to bring said money with him to dinners, movies etc.

It was amazing to me how everything in their life was enhanced to require more than just acquiring something. Another way to put it is every item had a service tacked on. Buy a suit it comes with tailoring, buy a car and get a driver, buy a vacation home but it has a full time staff. But the crazy part was the lack of appreciation for how that affected other people‘s lives.

They looked down on the millionaire across the block because he had to work to maintain it.

It’s surprises me how little they talk about money, or the price of things.

Habitually I sort of complain about the cost of living; or frame my enjoyment of things through the cost of it.

“It was a great time but honestly for $X99, I expected…”

I’d always be met with blank looks. They just don’t see the world through that lens; the cost is never really part of the equation of choice for them.

“Don’t worry the jet leaves when we get there”.