I'm not rich... yet.

Most people are boring, doesn't matter if they are rich or poor. The society also makes us pretend we are boring because if you share some unusual or inconvenient opinion, you'll hurt someone's feelings.

My old CEO was a super average guy. Was a college professor with a stay at home wife four young kids. Last two were twins one were special needs. He left teaching as could no longer afford it. He met a guy on Wall street on a cold call interview for a job. Yes he cold called a head of a trading desk. That is how little he know about job hunting, guy hired him to answer phone, five years later after a few promotions he left with him to start my old firm. At 42 we did IPO he owned five percent we sold it one billion He got fifty million, then he got a five million salary as CEO for 11 years. We then sold the company to a bigger company he got a change of control payout. Then that company sold us and he got let go with a 20 million parachute. He cleared around $160 million pay in 15 years.

His Dad is a Holocaust survivor, he still lives in his little split, drives a minivan and the three healthy kids all paid 100% for their own college. He did do a big trust etc for his disabled son he lived in a small split. Not all rich people are bad. I know he gives tons to charity, The rest is set up in trusts to charity and his disabled son.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a lower and middle-class household and eventually became relatively wealthy (think big law firm partner wealthy). The longer I was around other wealthy people, the more I disliked them. Everything they stood for rubbed me the wrong way. They bored me.

A few years ago I walked away from rich people completely and now live a very different life. I have zero to do with old colleagues and friends and am much happier.

Anybody else feel the same way about the rich?

Cool story bro.

Can't figure why DCUM is always so eager for a round of class envy/guilt/navel gazing.

As much as I appreciate the Zoolander reference, I see that you use it a lot - while otherwise adding nothing to the discussion.

"You see" who use it a lot? Are you secretly Jeff, and somehow privy to the IP addresses of all the anonymous posters? Now stop lying about how "rich" you are.

Ok I’ll rephrase. I saw “cool story bro” and laughed. Then I saw it again and again. So somebody is using a lot.

And I never once said how rich I am. So I ain’t lying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a lower and middle-class household and eventually became relatively wealthy (think big law firm partner wealthy). The longer I was around other wealthy people, the more I disliked them. Everything they stood for rubbed me the wrong way. They bored me.

A few years ago I walked away from rich people completely and now live a very different life. I have zero to do with old colleagues and friends and am much happier.

Anybody else feel the same way about the rich?

Cool story bro.

Can't figure why DCUM is always so eager for a round of class envy/guilt/navel gazing.

As much as I appreciate the Zoolander reference, I see that you use it a lot - while otherwise adding nothing to the discussion.

"You see" who use it a lot? Are you secretly Jeff, and somehow privy to the IP addresses of all the anonymous posters? Now stop lying about how "rich" you are.

Interesting thread.

I get the “Boring” idea. I’ve always found it ironic how uncreative most rich people are in basic living. Despite having the greatest resources to do almost anything, they mostly all (except ultra rich) gravitate to a certain, appropriate, SAME type of lifestyle...same appropriate home, home decor, same appropriate vacations, vacation homes, hobbies, interests, wine, food, dress, cars, pens, jewelry, pets, charity work, perhaps a side business, one quirky defining collecting habit, clubs...all.the.same. Rich out of central casting. People spend an Extraordinary amount of their lives trying to emulate what they think Rich people do. Even the Rich. Or they do what the family “has always done”. Yes, boring.

I don’t begrudge people who inherit money as they didn’t ask for that situation. Some are uncomfortable with it. I do find it unseemly to put down others who have not had your same advantages.

Yes there are jerks in every economic level but I find upper classes to be less friendly in general and I suspect it is due to fearing loss of their position, distancing themselves from their humble origins, or outright entitlement.

This fear...I see it in the car stickers people have showcasing their club memberships, vacation spots, private schools, etc. you don’t see Braggy car stickers in lower class areas. It says something of UMC that it is not good enough to be fortunate enough to attend elite schools/vacation luxoriously/belong to luxurious private clubs but that this privilege must be further advertised and emblazoned on luxury vehicles!!!....How insecure must people be? This pride in elitism is shameful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not really.

We still live in a middle class neighborhood and hang with middle class friends and neighbors. We have a net worth of over $5M in our late 30s (perhaps that is not considered rich though) but you wouldn't know it by our house, the way we dress, or the cars we drive, etc. We just don't feel a need to flaunt it.

We do take some nice vacations though.

This is us. Our circle of closest friends is the same from when we were in our 20s. We're now mid 40s and through work, we have a net worth of around $10M. It hasn't changed much about our life. We take awesome vacations. That's about it.

My thought is what made you get caught up in that lifestyle in the first place? That says something about you. I always knew I didn't want to be a big law partner or hang out at the golf course or belong to the fancy country club. But I suppose it's good you figured it out.

Point being, there are plenty of rich people not living the life you're trying to get away from and that you don't like.

We were like you. Until we were in our early 50's we lived comfortably but well below our incomes or net worth which was $15-20M at the time. When my DH's income was listed in his company's proxy it surprised a lot of people including our children! He retired two years ago with a much greater net worth and he decided it was time to "unlock the vault" so we joined a golf club and built a vacation home. But I drive a Subaru SUV and he buys used cars so we haven't gone crazy!

A golf club and a vacation home? Yawn

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not really.

We still live in a middle class neighborhood and hang with middle class friends and neighbors. We have a net worth of over $5M in our late 30s (perhaps that is not considered rich though) but you wouldn't know it by our house, the way we dress, or the cars we drive, etc. We just don't feel a need to flaunt it.

We do take some nice vacations though.

This is us. Our circle of closest friends is the same from when we were in our 20s. We're now mid 40s and through work, we have a net worth of around $10M. It hasn't changed much about our life. We take awesome vacations. That's about it.

My thought is what made you get caught up in that lifestyle in the first place? That says something about you. I always knew I didn't want to be a big law partner or hang out at the golf course or belong to the fancy country club. But I suppose it's good you figured it out.

Point being, there are plenty of rich people not living the life you're trying to get away from and that you don't like.

You are wrong in assuming that I got caught up in that lifestyle. I never did. I just observed. I’ve always lived a different life than the rich, but I had a family to support. So I sucked it up for as long as I could stand, then walked away from all of it.

OP - it's time for you to put on a hair shirt and flog yourself in public. It might be a way for you to release your pent up anger.

Ha ha I’m expressing joy, not anger!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a lower and middle-class household and eventually became relatively wealthy (think big law firm partner wealthy). The longer I was around other wealthy people, the more I disliked them. Everything they stood for rubbed me the wrong way. They bored me.

A few years ago I walked away from rich people completely and now live a very different life. I have zero to do with old colleagues and friends and am much happier.

Anybody else feel the same way about the rich?

Cool story bro.

Can't figure why DCUM is always so eager for a round of class envy/guilt/navel gazing.

As much as I appreciate the Zoolander reference, I see that you use it a lot - while otherwise adding nothing to the discussion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not really.

We still live in a middle class neighborhood and hang with middle class friends and neighbors. We have a net worth of over $5M in our late 30s (perhaps that is not considered rich though) but you wouldn't know it by our house, the way we dress, or the cars we drive, etc. We just don't feel a need to flaunt it.

We do take some nice vacations though.

This is us. Our circle of closest friends is the same from when we were in our 20s. We're now mid 40s and through work, we have a net worth of around $10M. It hasn't changed much about our life. We take awesome vacations. That's about it.

My thought is what made you get caught up in that lifestyle in the first place? That says something about you. I always knew I didn't want to be a big law partner or hang out at the golf course or belong to the fancy country club. But I suppose it's good you figured it out.

Point being, there are plenty of rich people not living the life you're trying to get away from and that you don't like.

You are wrong in assuming that I got caught up in that lifestyle. I never did. I just observed. I’ve always lived a different life than the rich, but I had a family to support. So I sucked it up for as long as I could stand, then walked away from all of it.

OP - it's time for you to put on a hair shirt and flog yourself in public. It might be a way for you to release your pent up anger.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a lower and middle-class household and eventually became relatively wealthy (think big law firm partner wealthy). The longer I was around other wealthy people, the more I disliked them. Everything they stood for rubbed me the wrong way. They bored me.

A few years ago I walked away from rich people completely and now live a very different life. I have zero to do with old colleagues and friends and am much happier.

Anybody else feel the same way about the rich?

Cool story bro.

Can't figure why DCUM is always so eager for a round of class envy/guilt/navel gazing.

Anonymous wrote:It is great that your money privilege is allowing you to live the life you want, meaning distancing yourself from people you don't like. You should acknowledge that. Sadly, most of people are not in your position and have to put up with people they dislike in order to make a living. So, as long as you know that, live anyway and with anyone you want.

OP here. I agree with this. Yes, I’m lucky. I’m also proud of myself for taking the leap. It wasn’t easy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not really.

We still live in a middle class neighborhood and hang with middle class friends and neighbors. We have a net worth of over $5M in our late 30s (perhaps that is not considered rich though) but you wouldn't know it by our house, the way we dress, or the cars we drive, etc. We just don't feel a need to flaunt it.

We do take some nice vacations though.

This is us. Our circle of closest friends is the same from when we were in our 20s. We're now mid 40s and through work, we have a net worth of around $10M. It hasn't changed much about our life. We take awesome vacations. That's about it.

My thought is what made you get caught up in that lifestyle in the first place? That says something about you. I always knew I didn't want to be a big law partner or hang out at the golf course or belong to the fancy country club. But I suppose it's good you figured it out.

Point being, there are plenty of rich people not living the life you're trying to get away from and that you don't like.

We were like you. Until we were in our early 50's we lived comfortably but well below our incomes or net worth which was $15-20M at the time. When my DH's income was listed in his company's proxy it surprised a lot of people including our children! He retired two years ago with a much greater net worth and he decided it was time to "unlock the vault" so we joined a golf club and built a vacation home. But I drive a Subaru SUV and he buys used cars so we haven't gone crazy!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not really.

We still live in a middle class neighborhood and hang with middle class friends and neighbors. We have a net worth of over $5M in our late 30s (perhaps that is not considered rich though) but you wouldn't know it by our house, the way we dress, or the cars we drive, etc. We just don't feel a need to flaunt it.

We do take some nice vacations though.

This is us. Our circle of closest friends is the same from when we were in our 20s. We're now mid 40s and through work, we have a net worth of around $10M. It hasn't changed much about our life. We take awesome vacations. That's about it.

My thought is what made you get caught up in that lifestyle in the first place? That says something about you. I always knew I didn't want to be a big law partner or hang out at the golf course or belong to the fancy country club. But I suppose it's good you figured it out.

Point being, there are plenty of rich people not living the life you're trying to get away from and that you don't like.

You are wrong in assuming that I got caught up in that lifestyle. I never did. I just observed. I’ve always lived a different life than the rich, but I had a family to support. So I sucked it up for as long as I could stand, then walked away from all of it.

Ever heard of the Millionaire Next Door?

How can you be so sure who is rich and who is not?

What you’re saying is that you hate flashy, snobby, insecure people. Ok. Who doesn’t?

But not all rich people are like that obv.