Some random things I wonder about the rich and famous

[DawnCt1]

Jealous? No. I just don't see the need to number the amount of trillionaires you know.

She was responding to the questions posted. Even if she was a trillionaire and was answering for herself, why would even that be bragging?

 

[Planogirl]

No, I've never posted until the other day. Been a lurker for several years. On another thread I joked that I was Eros if that is what you are referring to.

I bet that you were (or are) someone else but not that someone who shouldn't be mentioned. Lurker for a long time? Right.

 

[froglady]

I also felt that ducklite was just answering the question, and only gave multiple examples to show that she has come across a cross-section of the REALLY rich, not just one or two, which gives more credibility to her examples.

She also gave examples of people who inherited wealth vs those who achieved it through hard work vs those who gained it suddenly. People respond differently depending upon their life (or lack of) experiences. A 19 year old who suddenly (because at 19, regardless of how many years have been put in, it's still sudden) becomes rich and famous is going to behave differently than one who was born rich.

As another poster stated, millionaires in the 1-5 mil bracket are a dime a dozen these days. If you're middle aged, bought a nice house 30 years ago, and have been saving religiously for retirement, you easily fall into that group. It will probably take at least a million in retirement assets for most middle to upper middle class people to have a comfortable lifestyle.

I've also met a few multi-millionaires (10 mil+) and found what she stated to be true; their money is generally handled by someone else. However, the moms still drive carpool (although there is one student who does get dropped off in the Bently by her parent's chauffer from time to time, when her BMW is in the shop, I suppose) run to the grocery, go on field trips, etc.

And I have no doubt that many DISers fall into the millionaire group, even if they don't know it because they haven't added up their net worth recently.

 

[VSL]

I don't really see where ducklite was bragging either

 

[Doesney]

I agree, ducklite is not bragging at all.. Just because somone shares knowledge, does not make them boastful

 

[Poohbear123]

Stumbled into the Millionaire Group---I'm the one that wants to win the Lottery remember? I am probably in the LOWEST income bracket here on these boards.

 

[kristen821]

Stumbled into the Millionaire Group---I'm the one that wants to win the Lottery remember? I am probably in the LOWEST income bracket here on these boards.

I'm hoping to win the lottery as well! I am sure I am right next to you in the lowest income group!

 

[RadioNate]

Well back on topic. Like Ducklite, most of the truely wealthy I know have millions (and one billionaire, yes he is on the Forbes list) and you'd really never know it. They wear Dockers and Polos from Kohls just like the rest of us. They coach their kids sports teams, are obsessed with Lost, watch America Idol, eat out at the local burger joints...one called DH from Costco the other day.

American Express is usually the currency of choice. We were at a local mexican place once and a friend tried to pay with his black card and the poor waiter didn't recognize the card and said that he didn't think the restaurant accepted it. Our friend just said 'run it as Amex, trust me, it'll be fine.'

We have one good friend who's family is VERY VERY well off and he is quite cheap. He'd only buy drinks during happy hour and had to know all the weekly specials at bars and restaurants.

The weathy I know are all also very generous with their money and time. Most do so much good that you never hear about. For example if Habitat for Humanity needed some extra funding, not only would they cut a check but they'd be out there with a hammer.

 

[Free4Life11]

Stumbled into the Millionaire Group---I'm the one that wants to win the Lottery remember? I am probably in the LOWEST income bracket here on these boards.

You're not alone! I don't even know anyone who's rich.

I based this thread off that TV show they used to have "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and all I know is those people never lived like everytone else! I was always amazed by those people.

 

[ducklite]

You're not alone! I don't even know anyone who's rich.

I based this thread off that TV show they used to have "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and all I know is those people never lived like everytone else! I was always amazed by those people.

I'll bet you do know people with a net worth of over $1M, and just don't realize it. People who have been saving their money for years. Many look at a frugal person and see someone with no money. Often the opposite is the case, and that rainy day fund is huge--that was my grandmother. We were astounded by how much she had in the bank when she passed away, but she wouldn't replace the 30 year old curtains in her kitchen because she didn't want to spend the $24 at Wal-Mart. She'wasn't a millionaire, but she wasn't the pauper she was making herself out to be either.

Same thing with people who appear rich--live in big homes, drive expensive cars, they are often in debt up to their eyeballs.

I work with a guy who's the latter. He has a 7000 sf house, drives a Mercedes, and has lots of very expensive toys (boats, a plane), but for a lot of reasons I beleive that he scrapes to pay the bills each month.

Anne

 

[Planogirl]

Of course, it's all relative. A million dollars in one area may not be all that much, whereas it could be a fortune in some communities. I don't have to worry; I'm nowhere close to that!

I worked with and got to be good friends with a girl who came wealth. I never even knew it until I realized that she didn't really understand what the others meant when they talked about the cost of some things or how they couldn't afford something. She had just never had to deal with these things! (Must be nice... )

 

[ducklite]

Of course, it's all relative. A million dollars in one area may not be all that much, whereas it could be a fortune in some communities. I don't have to worry; I'm nowhere close to that!

I worked with and got to be good friends with a girl who came wealth. I never even knew it until I realized that she didn't really understand what the others meant when they talked about the cost of some things or how they couldn't afford something. She had just never had to deal with these things! (Must be nice... )

I have a friend like that. Her dad was a self-made many times over millionaire. Based on his real estate holdings alone he's got to be worth close to $15M, but you'd never know if by looking at him in his Lee jeans, Timex watch, and four year old pickup. She worked for him when she was in high school and even after. She got paid, plus he paid her rent, furnished her apartment, put $1000 a month in her checking account, and if she needed more, she took it from petty cash and left a note.

She never really learned to live on a budget. Then he sold the company. She moved to another state and met a guy, got married, it was a disaster, because her new husband was just a working Joe like the rest of us, and couldn't give her every material whim. They divorced, and she moved back home. "Daddy" bought her a house, and pays the taxes and insurance. So now she's 40, pays the utlities, buys her clothes and food, and is still ALWAYS broke, despite having a decent job. "Daddy" also provides her with a car and pays the insurance on that. It's really kind of sad.

Anne

 

[tevagirl]

Matthew McConaughey was playing the bongo drums naked one time

Very carefully, I should hope.

 

[azgal81]

Stars are just like us!! I'm just thinking about the need for us weekly to show stars doing everyday things. I find that section a little amusing. I don't think a million dollars is that much money these days, I mean if you count the net worth of people including cars, houses, investments, alot of people are easily over a million dollars. I think you need to have a least a few million to be considered weathly. Although I have no idea what the stars do with all of there money!

 

[RadioNate]

I have a friend like that. Her dad was a self-made many times over millionaire. Based on his real estate holdings alone he's got to be worth close to $15M, but you'd never know if by looking at him in his Lee jeans, Timex watch, and four year old pickup. She worked for him when she was in high school and even after. She got paid, plus he paid her rent, furnished her apartment, put $1000 a month in her checking account, and if she needed more, she took it from petty cash and left a note.

She never really learned to live on a budget. Then he sold the company. She moved to another state and met a guy, got married, it was a disaster, because her new husband was just a working Joe like the rest of us, and couldn't give her every material whim. They divorced, and she moved back home. "Daddy" bought her a house, and pays the taxes and insurance. So now she's 40, pays the utlities, buys her clothes and food, and is still ALWAYS broke, despite having a decent job. "Daddy" also provides her with a car and pays the insurance on that. It's really kind of sad.

Anne

My cousins are that way. My uncle owns his own business and I'd bet his paper worth is up there. One of my cousins is a year older than me, she works for him at an IMO overly generous salery and lives in a house he built for her 2 doors down. They take lavish family vacations which he pays for. Her moocher live in boyfriend even gets to come along.

Her sister is even worse. She'll be 26 and still lives at home. He pays all her bills, she has no job other than skydiving, he bought her a trailer at the drop zone...she's engaged and it is going to be a rude awakening for her. She wants to be an art teacher (no she doesn't have her degree yet) and he is an ex-marine (and medical supply sales person) so he is currently working as an independent contractor in Iraq so he can earn enough to support her.

It is so sad. Of course they think my life is so sad because we can't afford lavish vacations 6 times a year.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Well back on topic. Like Ducklite, most of the truely wealthy I know have millions (and one billionaire, yes he is on the Forbes list) and you'd really never know it. They wear Dockers and Polos from Kohls just like the rest of us. They coach their kids sports teams, are obsessed with Lost, watch America Idol, eat out at the local burger joints...one called DH from Costco the other day.

American Express is usually the currency of choice. We were at a local mexican place once and a friend tried to pay with his black card and the poor waiter didn't recognize the card and said that he didn't think the restaurant accepted it. Our friend just said 'run it as Amex, trust me, it'll be fine.'

We have one good friend who's family is VERY VERY well off and he is quite cheap. He'd only buy drinks during happy hour and had to know all the weekly specials at bars and restaurants.

The weathy I know are all also very generous with their money and time. Most do so much good that you never hear about. For example if Habitat for Humanity needed some extra funding, not only would they cut a check but they'd be out there with a hammer.

ITA, with your post. There are some who do not use American Express but have an asset account linked to their credit card so they never have to pay a credit card bill. The CPA pays all or most monthly bills from this type of account.

 

[Poohbear123]

ITA, with your post. There are some who do not use American Express but have an asset account linked to their credit card so they never have to pay a credit card bill. The CPA pays all or most monthly bills from this type of account.

Oh, so thats how they do it! Ducklite (Anne) is right about some folks that are worth Millions, living normally, among us, our friends from DC are like that, he wears dockers and polos but does LOVE his cars, has a WHOLE Parking garage full of them, and he owns them and the garage outright! He also rents space to other rich folks and uses that money to buy more buildings with. His brother lives down here, running the Fam business, and gets about 40,000-60,000 a month for his expenses.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I got the idea that OP was talking about celebrity types. Somehow I don't see Brit Spears or Lindsay Lohan opening mail or paying bills.
I did see that Jessica Simpson uses Black Amex and I am sure she spends whatever she wants with no qualms.
I don't think celebrities live a normal life at all. they seem to pay people to do everything for them. they don't seem to take care of anything for themselves.

I think that wealthy (I mean Vanderbilt) people prob live a semi-normal life, and it is the "celebrity" wealthy people that live differently...

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I read an interview with Chris Farley right before he died. he said wherever he went everything was handed to him. restaurants and clubs comp'd everything. companies sent him clothing and accessories in a bid to get a photo of him wearing them. he had all the money he could spend and no one wanted to take it. the only people that would were drug dealers and hookers.