In the world of the rich, there are those who were born into their wealth (old money) and those who made it themselves (new money). And while both enormously wealthy twentysomething aristocrats and entrepreneurs share some qualities of those who have been swimming in infinite riches since they started breathing, there are subtle and not-so-subtle differences that people have picked up on.
From flashing your excessive wealth to being rude to people who millionaires pay for backbreaking work, there are some eye-opening hints of what kind of millionaires we're dealing with. Not that it makes any difference to what we think of them.
#1
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "The one thing I learned from the wealthiest woman I ever knew: Everything is repairable. Throwing out broken things is a sign of middling wealth. My dad was a furniture upholsterer and carpenter and made scads of money off of rich old people who didn't want to part with things and were willing to hire a professional in a field rarely heard from to fix something older than they were, rather than go to Ikea and get a replacement.
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Once upon a time, a cool $1 million was the epitome of making it. It unleashed a frenzy, summoning hordes of eager individuals to queue up outside corner stores and supermarkets in hopes of snagging seven-digit lottery jackpots. Journalists volleyed questions at fortunate winners, probing into the intricate details of their plans, while the rest of us dreamed it could be us one day. No surprise why TV programs like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" were a big hit.
Millionaires, a rare breed, were drenched in an aura of fascination, their extravagant lifestyles imbued with an air of allure. These affluents luxuriated in the finest culinary establishments, donned garments oozing with unbridled fashion, zoomed around town in pint-sized, zestful sports cars, and resided in grandiose mansions that whispered tales of extravagant living. By the '90s, there were only about 60,000 millionaires in the US. Today, this number is as high as 21.9 million US residents, meaning that about 8.8% of America's adult population has "made it."
#2
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "Big new homes and expensive new cars. New money buys big new homes and expensive new cars. Old money keeps the older home and the older car, but both are in pristine condition, and it is a point of pride
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However, with inflation and whatnot, $1 million is not that big of a deal no more, it turns out. According to Forbes, one must rake in no less than an eye-watering $597,000 per year and amass $11.1 million to secure a position among the privileged top 1% of American society.
As Andrew Gelman, a professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University, once noted: "It used to be that a millionaire was someone with a million dollars. Nowadays, though, the term is often used to refer to people who make a million dollars a year."
#3
I've worked in very expensive restaurants, and old money people are polite AF. They stand when their elders arrive, leave, or use the bathroom. Louis Ward's widow is an example. Not super-old money, but they got rich on Russell Stover's. They didn't flaunt their money and usually treated me very well. They tipped cultural standard and no more, no less. Never ordered a bottle of wine that cost more than $140 and discussed it as if they knew what they were talking about. They all spoke very quietly, and everyone shut the hell up when the matriarch spoke. New money people often have a chip on their shoulder about it.
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#4
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "No conscious need to show off their wealth. I went to an Ivy League school as a middle-class kid, and I ended up meeting a lot of friends from old money families. Truly old money families do not care about brand names, and they do not go out of their way to buy flashy, branded items. Being dressed from head to toe in visible brands is considered somewhat tacky. They focus on owning quality items that are more timeless and less flashy or trendy; many of their garments and accessories are bespoke or tailor-made, especially men's suits. Open snobbery about wealth was something I saw more in middle-class circles — the upper classes were far less insecure.
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According to the findings of business theorist Thomas Stanley, a remarkable 80% of millionaires in the United States have forged their fortunes through hard work and entrepreneurship rather than relying on inherited wealth. This can also be traced by inspecting the evolution of the Forbes 400 list.
Most individuals on the list, it turns out, did not inherit the family business but rather made their own fortune. One particular research sheds light on this phenomenon, revealing that a significant 69% of individuals featured on the Forbes list in 2011 had ventured into entrepreneurship and established their own enterprises, compared to the 40% recorded in 1982.
#5
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "Telling every single person they come into contact with how much they spent on something. A former employer of mine told me he had to send in this $8,000 heater from his second plane for a $2,000 service because it didn't get hot anymore. Like, I'm struggling to keep a roof over my head and food on my table, and this is the shit you're telling me?!
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#6
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Old-school hobbies. Maybe it's a stereotype, but most of my rich friends are quite accomplished at squash, sailing, tennis, fencing, crew, and equestrian sports. It's just a normal thing to enjoy in their circles. Playing some sort of sport at an elite school was sort of an expectation.
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To gain deeper insights into the intricate tapestry of affluent culture, Bored Panda reached out to 'Rich: The Rise and Fall of American Wealth Culture' author Larry Samuel, who ventured deep into the wilds of wealth culture in the US, documenting how rich people spend their time and money. "I found it very interesting that, even though they had a ton of money, millionaires (and billionaires, for that matter) still had to deal with the existential challenge that we all face—to find meaning and purpose in life," he said.
#7
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Total comfort around domestic servants. Old money people have an incredible ability to treat the help as if they're part of the furniture; they will discuss deeply personal matters in front of the maid like it's no big deal. Middle-class families who hire a maid once a week will often be very awkward about having a conversation in front of them while they're working, while the rich are accustomed to having help.
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#8
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "Wearing head-to-toe logo mania — only buying designer items that CLEARLY have the name front and center. For example, my roommate got a pair of Burberry track pants that are a bright blue, sports material, button up the side, with only 'Burberry' written above one of the back pockets. Super cute for her, but she was out with a guy wearing a Burberry button-down who made some slick comment about her being dressed down. She said, 'Well, we both got the Burberry memo,' and he was too stunned to speak lol.
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Through his immersive encounters with America's affluent community, Samuel made a compelling revelation: the act of lavishly splashing millions on material possessions - your Porches, private islands or diamond-encrusted fidget spinners - seldom yielded genuine happiness.
"Those folks who found a 'higher' purpose in their lives," he explained, "were infinitely happier and more secure (richer, so to speak) than those interested in the acquisition of things or even experiences, in other words, something that poses enormous implications for how we all might choose to live our lives."
#9
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "Being rude to people who serve you
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#10
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Family heirlooms are extremely important. An engagement ring is an old heirloom from a wealthy grandparent, not something new and flashy. The newly wealthy received brand-new diamond stud earrings for a 16th birthday; the old money received Grandma’s gold pendant that had been in the family for generations.
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Throughout his research journey, which occasionally required going as an undercover millionaire, Samuel unearthed a captivating revelation: the realm of millionaires can be categorized into five distinct archetypes. Challenging the well-worn narrative of old money versus new money, Samuel concluded that this dichotomy has grown tiresome and oversimplified.
#11
New rich buy gaudy bulls**t. They'll buy the lambo and make it chrome. They'll buy "Supreme" bullshit, they'll pay $10,000 for a pair of sneakers. Etc. They are all about status symbols, big jewelry, and brand names plastered on everything. They are the type to "leave the tags on" to "prove it's new" or some bullshit lol.
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#12
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Not understanding the stress that comes from being poor or middle class. I jumped between poor and middle class as a kid and wound up going to college with a bunch of rich folk. If you talked about how stressed you were over paying the rent or having to eat tofu and spend hours on food prep, they wouldn't insult you about it or think less of you — but it was very clear they didn't understand the emotional weight of those problems. They could hear about your stress and just shrug it off because they didn't get what it's like to be financially insecure. Sometimes they'd even offer to help pay for a meal, but you could see the confusion in their faces when they picked up on the fact that you were still stressed, because they didn't realize you were now worrying about your next meal. Every so often, this disconnect would show up in more overt ways: They'd tell people abused at work to just quit their jobs, or tell kids on scholarship (me) to 'take a break from work and come party' — not realizing that you wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself knowing that you had a paper to finish, and that if you didn't finish it, you could drop a grade, lose your scholarship, and be unable to attend next semester."Ultimately, it was a lack of understanding that didn't necessarily come with any disdain or antipathy.
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Referred to as "Coolionaires" by Samuel, these individuals epitomize the notion of wealth intertwined with aesthetics. "Coolionaires have a deep desire to surround themselves with beautiful things and experiences, viewing their wealth as the opportunity to express their status as a person of refinement and sophistication. For them, wealth is the means to dwell in and show off their sense of taste, like picking up a Basquiat or Banksy while at Art Basel Miami Beach," he said.
#13
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Connections would be the best way to insinuate old money. Being able to access back doors denied to other people, even if the individual was rich. Having relationships with other developed companies where favors could be found. An old money family would likely have a library of favors at their disposal, where problems could be easily solved by calling a number or making a passing comment.
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#14
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Fluency in another language is much more likely (due to a better general education). I'm from the UK, so we may have slightly different customs, but we have a lot of very old and wealthy families here with hereditary titles and historic family homes. In the UK, they'd usually be fluent in French or German. Knowledge of Latin and Greek used to be more common; your older family members will be better versed in these subjects, but it's still taught well in the public schools. The kids will not study dippy subjects at uni but will be encouraged towards things like law, medicine, and classics. If they are into music, they will go to a conservatoire. Even if they never intend to practice these things, it's mainly for their parents' approval, and so that they are not seen as academically mediocre."Many have to work hard in order to impress their parents and maintain their approval; this isn't because the parents are harsh, but usually because they are aware of their wealth and privilege and try to ensure the kids don't grow up too spoiled and entitled. Enforcing rigorous household rules, good manners, and humility and pushing for academic success is a good way to ensure that the children don't just get an easy ride to inherited wealth, and that they hopefully grow up polite and appreciative of what they have. This doesn't always work out, though.
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Another intriguing category identified by Samuel is the group he calls "Wellionaires." As the name implies, these individuals prioritize channeling their riches towards nurturing their physical and mental well-being. "They use their wealth to convey to themselves and others that they are living lives in and of balance, perceiving a symbiotic relationship between themselves and the planet," Samuel said. They opt for vacation destinations abundant in nature, such as the Galapagos Islands or Machu Picchu, further emphasizing their inclination towards aligning with the natural world and fostering holistic well-being. Probably a regular at 'A-Fest', the annual super-elite, invite-only wellness festival.
#15
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "There’s a sense of classism that is different — it’s less a disdain for the poor than a disdain for poor behavior. Old money has more respect for a middle-class family who represent themselves well in behavior and manners than a very wealthy family who make their wealth obvious. In my hometown, the old money would disapprove of the newly rich because the newly rich wanted to show everyone how wealthy they were. The old money were secure enough not to show off.
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#16
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: Adherence to old-school traditions and notions of politeness. I would get handwritten invitations to dinner at my friends' houses, and a handwritten thank-you note for any birthday or Christmas gifts, regardless of how little they cost. My rich friends are very big on thank-you notes, formal greetings, and never turning up to an event empty-handed. They always knew who you were supposed to tip and how much was appropriate. Again, I saw a lot more open snobbery in my hometown — my truly wealthy friends showed the same level of politeness with everyone
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However, he found that "Thrillionaires" are the closest to "new money" rich. "I found most of the 'Thrillionaires' I encountered were less than enlightened people. The irony is that I saw no evidence that spending huge sums of money on mostly frivolous things and experiences made these folks any happier as, of course, there’s always something bigger or better to buy." The newly affluent millionaires, in particular, possessed considerable wealth but had yet to grasp the notion that fostering the welfare of others holds the key to personal fulfillment.
#17
Old money tend to never discuss money. If someone brings it up, they are masters at diverting the conversation.#18
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Investing. Many old money families retain their wealth by being conservative (both with money and in other ways). Most of their members don't make exceptional money; they are lawyers or doctors earning good but not wild amounts of money. I imagine that they wouldn't go on heaps of expensive trips to places, but instead have a summer home that they go to for holidays. They would go to expensive private schools and drive secondhand cars. A lot of their hobbies would be based around property in the right places, like dressage or rowing — they aren't necessarily expensive sports, but they require a river or lake or land for horses
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#19
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "I have noticed that my extremely wealthy friends have a slight discomfort or bemusement with establishments generally considered a bit down-market (places like McDonald's and ones in the UK like Poundland, Wetherspoons, etc.). hey are always extremely polite and usually able to get into the spirit of the thing, but I remember taking one woman on her first trip to McDonald's (at age 23) and the kind of awkward, slightly bewildered way she reacted.
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#20
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "People who come into money quickly can have a tendency to go overboard. They get the biggest, best, shiniest everything. They aren't satisfied with the lifestyle. They used to be like you. Now they're better. It's not enough to be rich — they want you to know they're rich. That comes across as tacky and lacking in class.
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#21
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "Flashy behavior. Old money WILL NOT flaunt it in an obvious way. New money often finds old money style to be boring — it is. It is deliberately boring because being tacky is déclassé. Anyone you see who evokes the response, 'Wow, I bet they’re rich' is almost certainly NOT old money
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#22
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: They might be a real stickler for everyday expenses but still pay vast amounts for holidays or cars.
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#23
Screams new money: A green Lamborghini#24
Whispers old money: they have more leisure time- often “flying here, boating there, visiting friends” at the most random not vacation times as other people in society.#25
Whispers old money: Family name, knowing exactly where is it that one comes from, honoring the family name.#26
Whispers old money: if they are in their mid 20s (so the kids), don't know when the rush hour is, look rested (no financial stress can see it on the eyes) and are relaxed#27
Old money runs the big charity events, new money gets to donate.#28
Whispers old money: Taking pride in family trees and family coats of arms. Also having family coats of arms in the first place - most people either don't have that or don't know what theirs is (you'd be surprised which surnames do have one)
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#29
Whispers old money: The quality of the English and vocabulary used.#30
Whispers old money: They probably own old real estate. Maybe a countryside mansion. That's probably the best symbol of it. This would of course be in addition to the hyper modern flat in the city.#31
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "A Range Rover sport. Totally misses the point — it's a classy vehicle dumbed down for the wrong type of owner.
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#32
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "New money knows what it is like to be poor or middle class.
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#33
SCREAMS NEW MONEY: "An overall cocky attitude — because they are new to the whole scene. Old money is often synonymous with class, style, intelligent investing, etc., while new money is typically associated with rich jackasses who buy $300,000 cars with their first large sum of money attained and make other frivolous purchases
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#34
Whispers old money: They might know about special vineyards that make rare but not necessarily famous or particularly expensive wines. Same kind of niche preferences may apply for food, music, whatever.#35
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "If they've attended an Ivy League school, they say the town or city where they went to school instead of the school's name. For example, if you say, 'Where did you go to school?' they would reply, 'New Haven' instead of Yale, or 'Cambridge' instead of Harvard
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#36
Screams new money: Diamond grills#37
Screams new money: Maybe its because of where I live but those brand new lifted pickup trucks with the smoke stacks, light bars, etc. They don't scream billionaire money but when you have a 70k truck with a 12k lift kit, etc. you know the owner isn't exactly broke#38
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "The disconnect from the value of money and how hard it is to get for most people. It wasn't that they necessarily preferred things like high-end restaurants and expensive clothes — it was that they just didn't think about them. They would throw around money and make frivolous purchases, not to show off, but because the need to save money just didn't enter their head
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#39
Whispers old money: they are wearing a custom suit is to unbutton one button on the cuff of the jacket
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#40
Whispers old money: Reference institutional links. For example knowing a prestigious judge, bankers or deans of universities, or with that, reference the links to OM characters as friends made through prestigious institutions like universities.#41
Whispers old money:Not directly related to money but you could use things like a masonic ring and handshake. Also be aware of the use of language, accents and vernacular. Different words can used by the rich and poor. A good UK example is serviette vs. napkin, or the pronounciation of things like 'scone' and 'featherstonehall' (pronouced 'fanshaw'). You don't ask 'what subject did you study at University?', you ask 'what subject did you read at University?'. Due to a better education than the general population your characters may have a better vocabulary, more gramatical precision, and perhaps make more cultured quotes and references. Many rich kids call their parents mummy and daddy or mother and father rather than 'mum and dad'. They may have longer names, with their first names being more traditional, middle names honouring grandparents or names that have been in the familiy for generations, and double-barreled surnames. Ridiculous nicknames are common among public school boys.#42
Whispers old money: Family nights out to the opera, to the childrens' performances (orchestras, choirs, ballet, etc.), and expensive family holidays skiing, safaris, etc. Much less likely to book a package holiday or cruise, more likely to arrange their own activities and stay in an expensive hotel with a lot of amenities. Quite likely to own a holiday home in a sunny country (in the UK this would usually be somewhere in Europe such as France or Spain) or a ski place, and very likely to own more than one family home in the UK. Normally this might be a place in the city (London) and a place in the country (likely Hampshire or Dorset) and they go between them. They are also likely to have some form of staff, usually not a 'full' set, but some combination of maid, gardener, cook, butler, or nanny. The children (when not at boarding school) may also have private tutors who come to their house to help them with various subjects.#43
Old money children will also tend to be enrolled in a lot of activities such as musical instruments with a classical focus, orchestras, ballet, and of course typical sports of the gentry such as riding, shooting, fencing, lacrosse, rugby (which originated Rugby the public school). Adult men may be members of the fox hunt and the women will usually have a wide social circle and will be in charge of making the family's social arrangements (which are many, and many of which are a formality rather than something that anyone actually want to go to).#44
WHISPERS OLD MONEY: "Old money is impeccably kept, but in a different fashion — hair, clothes, skin are nice, but not obvious. Plastic surgery (the obvious kind) is gauche, as is dyeing one's hair long past the age where it is plausible. Less importance on perfectly done manicures — more emphasis on well-groomed nails and skin
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#45
Whispers old money: Being well read/having seen many plays and such and also if there are kids/teenagers/young adults making them idealistic and ambitious which crosses over to a naivety based in a rich upbringing
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