[ExI] millionaires and billionaires

[John Grigg]

I've found this thread fascinating, and will now add some of my own
thoughts.  I used to work in the hospitality field, and so got to meet my
share of millionaires and even a few billionaires.  I found many of these
people (especially the older ones) to be courteous and friendly, while I
remember a young trust fund venture capitalist (family business) who was so
obnoxiously arrogant to everyone, I wanted to deck him hard for his own
good.


A rather eccentric and very tall, gangly old man (dressed like he was an old
west undertaker) came to the lodge to visit, and he would just lounge around
on some big rocks outside and watch the world go by.  I went out to say
hello and see if he needed anything, and I got a Yoda-like sharing of wisdom
from him.  I was later told he was one of the wealthiest people in the
state.


A fairly "local" billionaire came by (I'm not saying his name), who had
started life with nothing, but had a fantastic work ethic and built a
business empire.  He had come by to have someone ask him for donations to a
worthy cause, and as I listened in to the conversation I had to stifle a
laugh as a skilled persuader found himself hitting a "friendly" brick wall
with this wealthy man! lol  This billionaire seemed almost to have ADD, but
it was more like the reverse, where he was looking at everything, asking
about everything, at a machine gun pace, but taking in everything that
might be of importance to him.  You could tell by the questions and insights
he made, that he was quite sharp, though he did not quite seem that way at
first.


This man traveled either alone (often driving a car that would not be given
a second look), or with an old buddy who was a retired fighter pilot, who
was sort of a chauffeur/body guard.  I remember when this billionaire drove
up in a "best they build" Rolls Royce, and I was astonished by the size and
beauty of it.  This guy was like a happy teenager with a Camaro as he talked
about it.  He was once overheard saying to his lawyer over the phone, "it's
only thirty million dollars, you take care of the matter however you see
fit."  This impressed people...


At one time a conference at this lodge caused a family of multi-billionaires
from Europe to take interest and send representatives.  I was astonished to
meet their "major domo" and some doctors they sent for training.  The
family did not have time or perhaps the interest to come, and so they sent
others to learn and report.  The major domo was very thorough and good at
his job, but I did not like him.  He came across sort of like a
nerdy villainous character from an old silent movie.  But it was interesting
to see how though he was not apparently rich himself, just by his
close affiliation with the super-rich, some women very much sucked up to
him, with embarrassing fervor.


Dennis May wrote:
I've met several people who were at best in the lower middle
class who acted as though they had real money and flaunted
it for those in the lower middle class or the poor.  In the same
community one of the wealthier men in the area didn't become
wealthy until he was in his late 50's to early 60's.  You would
see him at Wal-Mart in bib overalls sitting on the bench by the
greeter.
>>>


There is a joke in Scottsdale, Arizona about "$30,000 a year Scottsdale
Millionaires" who like to represent themselves to others as being rich, but
by doing so actually do without the basics of life! lol  On the other hand,
I read about two eccentric Texas brothers, raised by a super-rich father,
who got a huge kick out of living a middle class lifestyle.  They made me
think of the Otaku anime cosplayers.


Dennis May continues:
You meet millionaires all the time and likely don't know it.
I can't say I've ever met a billionaire.  I think the extent of the
rich I've ever been around is in the under 50 million range.
Most millionaires are not cocky about their money.  Most
people who act cocky about money are immature and
likely wannabes in debt.
 >>>


This is very true.  My eyes were opened by reading the great book, "The
Millionaire Next Door."  I recommend it to everyone.  I find most
millionaires to be very hardworking, intelligent, alert and pretty decent
people.  But of course there are some horrific exceptions.  I once worked
for a man who held a bank check for half million dollars in my face, and
arrogantly said, "you have never had a check like this, but I have many
times!"  He was a man in his sixties who could easily regress to the state
of a vicious teenager.


Growing up in Alaska, I remember how as a young boy, a good friend of my
mother started up a health food store.  It prospered and by the time I was
grown, this woman and her husband had multiple locations and a flagship
store that could rival a Safeway in size.  They looked like a blue collar
couple (think John Goodman and Rosanne), and it was those skills from that
very background, that lead to their great success.  They were humble and
*very very* hardworking.  I remember how when I was about thirteen, the
husband sat me down for "a talk."  I thought it was going to be about sex,
but instead it was about dealing with police, and how I must be very calm,
yet friendly, if ever stopped by them, because my very life depended on it,
due to abusive and out of control officers.  I have never forgotten that
talk.  I worked for them for awhile, and he was sort of like an uncle to
me.


I read a funny letter to the editor where a man embarrassingly complained
about how hard it is to only be worth twelve million dollars! lol  He said
that he realized many would not feel sorry for him and his wife, but that he
did feel very frustrated by all the cool things "real rich people" could do,
that he could not!  Buy a professional sports team franchise, a customized
747, a next generation super-yacht...?  Nope!!!  He just did not have the
money to have the fun he wanted in life.


I read the book "Bobos in Paradise" that talked in fascinating detail about
the social hierarchy among the wealthy.  At a dinner party, deferential
treatment is given based on wealth (among other things), and the guy worth
$200 million just does not rate on par with the 1.2 billionaire, just as he
is seen as the social inferior of the fellow worth 5 billion.  And a
"titan/demigod" of wealth (Gates, etc.) can make them all by comparison be
seen as minor players.  A proper dinner host keeps these things in mind, but
tries to keep it low-key as they plan the gathering.  It made me think of
Victorian England...


Dennis May continues:
Many with money are too busy doing what they like to
change their behavior or spend money like they have it
>>>


An interesting comment.  Yes, for some, real introspection will end with
great wealth, but for others, it will not.  I agree with the notion that
riches magnify the major aspects (good or bad) of a person's personality and
character.  And I do think that some wealthy people do realize that if they
are not careful, their possessions will in time actually own *them.*


John Grigg
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