I’ve always found it rather odd in human behaviour that people who don’t have millions are dying to show it off with high-status goods, but people who HAVE millions, even billions, tend to keep quietly to themselves.
Of course, there are always those (outliers?) who don’t want to show off without millions, and those who have a lot of money and feel the need to buy a superyacht, McMansion x 100 and all the cars they can afford.
It’s just an interesting thing to think about:
When we don’t have money, we feel the need to pretend like we do.
When we do have money, we don’t feel the need to show it.
In fact, as humans, we may actively go to hide it.
A timely post popped up from Yahoo Finance on this: Ultra-rich in Canada ($30M net worth or more) actively fly under the radar.
Think of all the ordinary millionaires next door who basically wear shorts and flip flops rather than thousand-dollar suits everyday just because it’s more comfortable.
It’s almost like the trappings of being rich (suits, high heels, fitted, tailored clothing), are a prison for them and a sign of NOT being rich.
Just as I think that someone who wears a rather uncomfortable-looking formal suit and tie in my profession is really just trying to compensate for his or her lack of skills and knowledge.
Or how about the billionaires like Ingvar Kamprad, Warren Buffett, or even Mark Zuckerberg who have never felt the need to buy a massive castle, a Rolls Royce in every colour, or any other rich trapping?
They’re comfortable with who they are, and don’t feel the need to shove their wealth and net worth in other people’s faces.
In fact, they’re probably very careful to avoid showing off as much as possible to not get accosted for charities, or because they’re already very rich and famous to begin with, and would probably value a little privacy.
(I personally would like the riches, but not the fame. Can you imagine not being able to go to the grocery store and shop for mundane items?)
So why can’t we (who probably don’t have millions and billions) have the same attitude today?
We should be happy with what we already have, not show off how much we have or don’t have, and live without the goal of showing off or impressing others.
There’s no real benefit in showing off, in my opinion. I don’t see what I would gain from such an interaction other than emotions fired up on either side — jealousy and pride … neither of which are attractive qualities.
Prime example:
So let’s just all act like millionaires and billionaires in our life, shall we?
Live simply, comfortably and without the pressing need to wave big fat wads of cash in other people’s faces.
