Rich people

somefeen

I don't think I've ever met anyone who was really wealthy.
(in before "We are all loaded compared to Ethipoians")

I always wondered if they really were as weird and disconnected from reality as film and tv shows make them out to be?
I'm not talking about people just doing well for themselves, I mean people who could buy your house in the morning no bother. The type of people that have super yachts in monaco and private jets.


I don't really desire all that kind of stuff I'm happy with what I have but always wonder, whats it like to have that much money and if you're born into it do you become weird?

El Guapo!

I've met a few people who are worth into the hundreds of millions. And tbh, the majority of them were tossers who loved letting everyone know they had money.
I met one guy worth at least half a billion and he was like a normal joe soap. You'd offer this guy a few quid if you passed him on the street.

becost

I currently have 490,000,000 Zimbabwean Dollars in my Bank of Ireland current account (€0.45).

Pinklady11

I know one guy who is a millionaire. He made his fortune by selling loads of land in the good times after his father past away. He has homes all over the world and is regularly seen driving his Lamborghini around the local town.

BUT he is a self obsessed nut job! The last girl he dated dumped him and he stalked her for months after. I always found him to be odd, and difficult to make conversation with on the few occasions I was in his company.

To be honest I'd rather be a poor "normal" person with good friends than a rich nut job who nobody really likes.

con1421

As I have travelled around I have come accross many different people from all walks of life. I have met millionaires and at the same time I have met people who harly had two penny's to rub together. Those with the money become ignorant with little personality and they simply don't look at life in the same way that others would. You are simply worthless in their eyes.

Those who are less fortunate than others always seem to appreciate life more. They have time for almost everyone and respect people in the same way.

For me I prefer to be less well off. I can't stand misers and distance myself from those who judge people based on the size of their wallets

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

con1421 wrote: »

Those with the money become ignorant with little personality and they simply don't look at life in the same way that others would. You are simply worthless in their eyes.

con1421 wrote: »

I can't stand misers and distance myself from those who judge people based on the size of their wallets

hrm....

becost

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

hrm....

Good catch!

mikemac1

I knew JP Ryan and Bernard McNamara from working in their hotels.

Worth tens of millions and the nicest gentlemen you could hope to meet.
Would chat away with you and months later still remember what you were doing in college

Neither are very rich these days!

Rich people are sound OP, people who think they are rich are tossers.
Any retail worker has met the well to do, middle class women out spending her husbands money and sneering at low paid staff

shopaholic01

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I know one guy who is a millionaire. He made his fortune by selling loads of land in the good times after his father past away. He has homes all over the world and is regularly seen driving his Lamborghini around the local town.

BUT he is a self obsessed nut job! The last girl he dated dumped him and he stalked her for months after. I always found him to be odd, and difficult to make conversation with on the few occasions I was in his company.

To be honest I'd rather be a poor "normal" person with good friends than a rich nut job who nobody really likes.

Typical 'new money attitude', people born into wealth are usually much more down to earth and often look and live like they don't have a pot to piss in.

becost

I only know one multimillionaire and he's the nicest guy you could meet. It's probably a case that if your a prick, money will make you a bigger prick but if your a decent person, it wont change that.

Jester144

Well my parents are wealthy, and the one thing I can definitely say is that it does not buy you happiness.

I would love the opportunity to have money just to see whether it would make me miserable though! I don't want to be rolling in money but it would be lovely not to have to worry about paying for everything, and I would love to be able to treat my girls to a few nice things.

I know people who are not hard up who are completely normal, and I have also encountered a few that are total c**ks.

orestes

I've met quite a few millionaires, they were all nice and normal down to earth people, not flashy with their money and not misers. My benchmark for how someone is with money is if they get their round in when they're supposed to with no fuss.

Madam_X

mikemac1 wrote: »

Any retail worker has met the well to do, middle class women out spending her husbands money and sneering at low paid staff

Yup.
Although rich people can be sound or arseholes or anything. They're peppered with all kinds, like any group.

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Typical 'new money attitude', people born into wealth are usually much more down to earth and often look and live like they don't have a pot to piss in.

I've found the opposite too though. People born into extreme privilege thinking that's the way it is for everyone else and not having a clue. And people who are self-made rich people never forgetting where they came from or the slog it took to get them where they are. They tend to instill that attitude into their kids too.

Lots of money won't buy you happiness, but having enough to live comfortably means a whole heap of stuff not to worry about. Struggling financially is misery.

pragmatic1

Yeah I've met a two uber rich people. From what I could see they were completely dedicated to their businesses and didn't have much of a life outside it. Both were also very introverted from what I seen.

brummytom

I was at a family friend's 50th last year, sat in a pub between the CEO of one of Europe's largest companies, and a carpenter from the arse-end of Kerry. World's apart, but just as easy to get along with.

shopaholic01

Madam_X wrote: »

I've found the opposite too though. People born into extreme privilege thinking that's the way it is for everyone else and not having a clue. And people who are self-made rich people never forgetting where they came from or the slog it took to get them where they are. They tend to instill that attitude into their kids too.

If you're born into wealth you will never understand what it's like to struggle financially. What I meant was that they are less likely to advertise their wealth in the same way. Look at the typical Celtic tiger attitude, simply things like 'where did I leave my car keys' became 'where are the keys to my 5 series BMW' etc.

admiralofthefleet

i knew a bloke who is worth a fortune but never brags about it. he gambles heavily on the horses and drinks like a fish but is sound as a pound

Three Seasons

I know a of one kind of rich person, he is two promotions away from being CEO of a fortune five hundred company. He's fairly sound really, like anyone else.

Arpa

I think it tends to be the nouveau riche who are the tossers. People who have worked hard or inherited don't seem to view it as a status thing, to them it's just they can get through the week without having to count pennies. I know quite a few very wealthy people and what I see usually is that they have been instilled with a sense of how to use money wisely and inconspicuously and not to flash it about. One of my mates is in the multi-millionaire category but still uses a nokia 3310 as he sees no need for a flashy iPhone if what he has does the job. It's not about having the best things in life, it's about appreciating what you have and being responsible with it.

FloatingVoter

Lots of us know rich people without knowing it. The famously wealthy are only a tiny subset of wealthy people overall. It is possible to have tens of millions and not live an extravagant lifestyle.
As for people with a million or two to hand - the lottery is won by people who choose to remain anonymous on a frequent basis. Its very easy to conceal from all but your nearest and dearest.

Pawwed Rig

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Typical 'new money attitude', people born into wealth are usually much more down to earth and often look and live like they don't have a pot to piss in.

Funny how 'new money' is criticised. The person who works and makes a better life for themsleves is less worthy than someone who really never has to make much of an effort in life.

I would argue that the attitude of some of those born into money can be fairly dispicable, I have read articles on students having 'spend off's' in San Moritz, the D4 guys waving €50 notes round on the DORT, KPMG girls attitude etc etc

Cienciano

I know a millionaire who was born into money. Sound guy. Good business too, he owns a couple of multi story car parks in central Dublin. Steady income and not a business empire that takes over your life, great way to live

seenitall

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Typical 'new money attitude', people born into wealth are usually much more down to earth and often look and live like they don't have a pot to piss in.

I have a friend who is a trust fund "baby" (not really a baby!:D). Millions in the bank, never worked a day in his life, just dabbles in property speculation as the mood strikes. He's very on-alert about money, though. You wouldn't have thought it from his circumstances, but I think that he does to some extent measure his worth by his money. I think he's improved over the years, though.

Travels for fun a lot, spends his winters wherever the climate is warmer, takes self-improvement courses and similar all the time.

Dresses normally, really down-to-earth etc, but he does have a very care-free, extremely relaxed attitude to most things (other than money!). Which is refreshing in a friend. There is a boyishness to him, understandable in someone who never faced the responsibilities most people face in their lifetime (jobs, marriages, mortgages, kids). But overall, a good friend.

A self-made millionaire I used to know, though, was a different story. Inflexible, authoritarian, insecure, immature control freak. A thoroughly perplexing and unpleasant individual. Issues. I wonder if any of his 'difficult' traits have helped him in business?

shopaholic01

seenitall wrote: »

I have a friend who is a trust fund "baby" (not really a baby!:D). Millions on the bank, never worked a day in his life, just dabbles in property speculation as the mood strikes. He's very on-alert about money, though. You wouldn't have thought it from his circumstances, but I think that he does to some extent measure his worth by his money. I think he's improved over the years, though.

Travels for fun a lot, spends his winters wherever the climate is warmer, takes self-improvement courses and similar all the time.

Dresses normally, really down-to-earth etc, but he does have a very care-free, extremely relaxed attitude to most things (other than money!). Which is refreshing in a friend. There is an a boyishness to him, understandable in someone who never faced the responsibilities most people face in their lifetime (jobs, marriages, mortgages, kids). But overall, a good friend.

Is he single?

seenitall wrote: »

A self-made millionaire I used to know, though, was a different story. Inflexible, authoritarian, insecure, immature control freak. A thoroughly perplexing and unpleasant individual. Issues. I wonder if any of his 'difficult' traits have helped him in business?

No doubt the traits did help. It takes a certain individual to amass wealth from nothing. Having said that, I don't think all self-made people would share the exact traits. People skills would be needed to succeed in a lot of cases.

Czarcasm

So...

People can be dicks for all sorts of reasons, and people can be decent people, regardless of their financial status...


Clear as mud then.

seenitall

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Is he single?

He is. I'm afraid though, that his boyishness extends to being very picky about women, although he's no Brad Pitt himself, ya know (hopefully he'll never read this! ), which may account for his single status as well... that's all I'm gonna say, not fair to 'advertise' him like this!

shopaholic01

seenitall wrote: »

He is. I'm afraid though, that his boyishness extends to being very picky about women, although he's no Brad Pitt himself, ya know (hopefully he'll never read this! ), which may account for his single status as well... that's all I'm gonna say, not fair to 'advertise' him like this!

Well I'm gorgeous, so no problem there! :cool::p

FloatingVoter

shopaholic01 wrote: »

Well I'm gorgeous, so no problem there! :cool::p

Girl called Shopaholic meets rich guy - I can see how this ends....:p

sock puppet

Arpa wrote: »

I think it tends to be the nouveau riche who are the tossers. People who have worked hard or inherited don't seem to view it as a status thing

This makes absolutely no sense. The "nouveau riche", whether they're tossers or not, are the people who'e worked hard to make their money.

Plumpynutt

Was p1ssing beside Dennis O Brien at a urinal one time when I was 17 locked out of my head, pretty sure i asked him for some money

hatrickpatrick

Friend of mine knows the U2 lads since childhood and always says they're some of the nicest people you'd ever meet.
Why would being rich change your personality necessarily anyway? If you're going to become an arrogant douche or whatever once you're loaded, it means you always had it in you but nothing to back it up with. If you're a nice person before you make your millions there's no reason whatsoever to say you'd become any less of a nice person.

Fox_In_Socks

shopaholic01 wrote: »

If you're born into wealth you will never understand what it's like to struggle financially. What I meant was that they are less likely to advertise their wealth in the same way. Look at the typical Celtic tiger attitude, simply things like 'where did I leave my car keys' became 'where are the keys to my 5 series BMW' etc.

Where's my key-ring?

FloatingVoter

Plumpynutt wrote: »

Was p1ssing beside Dennis O Brien at a urinal one time when I was 17 locked out of my head, pretty sure i asked him for some money

...you also p1ssed on my shoes.

lightspeed

Arpa wrote: »

I think it tends to be the nouveau riche who are the tossers. People who have worked hard or inherited don't seem to view it as a status thing, to them it's just they can get through the week without having to count pennies. I know quite a few very wealthy people and what I see usually is that they have been instilled with a sense of how to use money wisely and inconspicuously and not to flash it about. One of my mates is in the multi-millionaire category but still uses a nokia 3310 as he sees no need for a flashy iPhone if what he has does the job. It's not about having the best things in life, it's about appreciating what you have and being responsible with it.

Miser

So he has the money get a new phone but still uses an outdated Nokia 3310?

Im not sure if he is running a business but if so, would it not be useful to have a phone that has access to email? The only reason he has not got a new phone is because he is to tight to get rid of his old phone. So basically the idea is to only ever spend money when needed and scurry the rest away in a cave?

That is exactly the approach we need to generate economic growth. That is a sure solution.

daithi1970

"..my Dad is a top earner in KPMG.."

*gets coat and leaves*





d

argirl

I've met different kinds of rich people, some good and some bad, but a common trait that a lot of them have is that they are extremely stingy. The ones born into money seem to lead meaningless lives and would be on the dole if their families were not rich or did not employ them into the family business.

B.A._Baracus

The only rich people I have ever come into contact with have been the owners of my previous jobs.

There has been a few but one comes to mind. I was 18 and working in a McDonalds Drive thru. The owner also owned the other mcdonalds down the road from it. What a prick. The way he looked, talked and walked.

But then again they say to succeed at business you have to be a prick.

Esoteric_

A few of my close relatives are self made millionaires, and all of them are sound. Easy to chat to, generous, normal people really.

I don't think wealth or lack thereof determines the kind of person somebody is. Either you were already an arsehole or you were already a nice person. Money doesn't change that.

hatrickpatrick

daithi1970 wrote: »

"..my Dad is a top earner in KPMG.."

*gets coat and leaves*





d

He's actually the "highest earning partner"

orestes

lightspeed wrote: »

Miser

So he has the money get a new phone but still uses an outdated Nokia 3310?

Im not sure if he is running a business but if so, would it not be useful to have a phone that has access to email? The only reason he has not got a new phone is because he is to tight to get rid of his old phone. So basically the idea is to only ever spend money when needed and scurry the rest away in a cave?

That is exactly the approach we need to generate economic growth. That is a sure solution.

I use an old school Nokia. So far I've had it about 2 years and it's worked it's way through 6 different European countries that I've lived and worked in over that time (I work in tourism). Good for phone calls and text messages anywhere, unlocked so I can switch sim cards as soon as I hit a new country with no hassle, battery life is about a week and the thing is practically indestructictable. If anyone needs to contact me, they can get me on it at any time so there's no need to e-mail me. I could easily afford a new phone if I wanted one, I just don't want one, I like this one and it does everything I need it to do very reliably. How is that miserly?

Czarcasm

lightspeed wrote: »

Miser

So he has the money get a new phone but still uses an outdated Nokia 3310?

Im not sure if he is running a business but if so, would it not be useful to have a phone that has access to email? The only reason he has not got a new phone is because he is to tight to get rid of his old phone. So basically the idea is to only ever spend money when needed and scurry the rest away in a cave?

That is exactly the approach we need to generate economic growth. That is a sure solution.

lightspeed if he's running a business, this is EXACTLY the way he should be thinking. Email on the phone while it's handy and all, is completely useless, unnecessary, and inefficient when you have a PA that takes care of all that stuff for you, leaving you to the other 100 headaches a day you have to deal with.

Your rather flippant "need to be on the bleeding edge of technology and waste money on the latest gadgets" approach is exactly the kind of approach that means a company goes out of business, but I'm guessing you never heard the story of the carpenter that had to have all the brand new tools and a big fcuk off workshop before he could get any work done.

He went out of business very quickly because he had to factor in paying for all his fancy new tools when charging his customers, so his prices were extortionate, and with no customers willing to pay what he was charging, he couldn't then pay for his fancy new tools, and went out of business.

smurgen

one of my bosses is worth about 550 million and drives a smart car so he doesn't have to pay the london congestion charge

I know a lot of really rich people. I come from a piss poor background. I've never been made to feel by any of them that I'm anything less than they are. I wonder though if it's because I have no insecurities telling me that I am anything less than they are?

Amronoc

Deleted User wrote: »

I know a lot of really rich people. I come from a piss poor background. I've never been made to feel by any of them that I'm anything less than they are. I wonder though if it's because I have no insecurities telling me that I am anything less than they are?

Fúck 'em

ruaille buaille

I had one super rich friend (trust fund baby). He had so much money he couldnt spend it all but he is one of the most unhappiest people I have every met. He would go and blow loads of money in casinos and expensive restaurants. He never cooked and if he used a plate, cup or glass in his house he would just throw it in the bin instead of washing it! :eek:
He had no grip on reality at all.

mikemac1

lightspeed wrote: »

Miser

So he has the money get a new phone but still uses an outdated Nokia 3310?

Im not sure if he is running a business but if so, would it not be useful to have a phone that has access to email? The only reason he has not got a new phone is because he is to tight to get rid of his old phone. So basically the idea is to only ever spend money when needed and scurry the rest away in a cave?

That is exactly the approach we need to generate economic growth. That is a sure solution.

Walk around the IFSC and you'll see plently of people with a Nokia 6310i. A good few of them pulling six figure salaries I'm sure

No email but it's a fantastic phone and business people from corporations to the self employed use them

Ends Kenny uses one too if that means anything.

Scruffles

a friend of mine is extremely wealthy,she owns several companies including the autism organisation am living in residential care under.
she has come from a well off background but she is one of the most down to earth people will ever meet,she is raising her children exactly the same way to,her seven year old is great to be around and is so mature for her age around us lot when other kids are quick to call us names or stare at us like a freak show.
she owns posh cars; a bentley,land rover and aston martin, but also sponsors a family with twins in africa-the dad became disabled and the mum died during the birth of the twins,she became aware of them through her friend whose husband is from the same area.
she pays for the twins yearly school fees and sends over huge packages of brand new clothes,toys,educational items and money for their school uniforms as well as money for food if am correct in thinking.
despite not having ridden her horse for years due to time,she recently did a one months horse trek in mongolia raising money for help for heroes but is dead against getting her photos taken and attention placed on her.

she is actualy the type of person who saves money as much as possible,she loves finding bargins and is an ebay addict,probably keeping all the autism/sensory/office equipment shops on there in business.:D
never judge a person by their money whether poor or rich,if they are ego driven around their money,a dickhead or resentful of people richer than themselves,blame them and their personality, not the cash.

Chao

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I had one super rich friend (trust fund baby). He had so much money he couldnt spend it all but he is one of the most unhappiest people I have every met. He would go and blow loads of money in casinos and expensive restaurants. He never cooked and if he used a plate, cup or glass in his house he would just throw it in the bin instead of washing it! :eek:
He had no grip on reality at all.

That's just his reality though.

smash

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I know one guy who is a millionaire. He made his fortune by selling loads of land in the good times after his father past away. He has homes all over the world and is regularly seen driving his Lamborghini around the local town.

BUT he is a self obsessed nut job!

Way to be subtle... There's only a handful of Lamborghini owners in the country

Jesus Wept

El Guapo! wrote: »

I've met a few people who are worth into the hundreds of millions. And tbh, the majority of them were tossers who loved letting everyone know they had money.
I met one guy worth at least half a billion and he was like a normal joe soap. You'd offer this guy a few quid if you passed him on the street.

Does that happen to ordinary Joe Soaps? Nobody has ever offered me a few quid as I pass them on the street.

Duggy747

Cousin of mine is married to one of the creators of Runescape. He's quite a shy character and by talking to him you wouldn't think he was worth €130 million-plus. Nice guy, though.