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Why The Wealthy Act Middle Class

  • Writer: David Mugun
    David Mugun
  • Jul 17, 2022
  • 3 min read

Steve Jobs wore his trademark polo necked top and denim trousers whenever Apple launched a product. Bill Gates wears his sweaters, and many corporate icons dress simple. In contrast, the middle class adorn expensive attire from head to toe. The casual eye might rate the high and mighty as middle class, and vice versa.


Economists have modelled us all into a pyramid with the super-rich at the apex and the hoi polloi at the bottom of it. The people at the foot of the pyramid share one attribute only with those at the top—both are out of the market for longer intervals than the middle class.


The rich guys buy durable quality stuff and then stay out, while the poor guys stay out as they search for money to partake in the economy. The middle class buy what they can afford now, then upgrade as many times as their ever-improving budgets allow them to. The middle class want to be quickly distinguished from the poor masses.


The super-rich have already made their mark and are less bothered by dressing to impress. They belong to exclusive clubs and at other times, they hold memberships together with the upper middle class when critical mass makes sense. They own businesses and properties that distinguish them apart from everyone else.


The supper-rich want to behave as if middle class because most ideas and solutions come from this group. It could be a manager, trader or teacher. Innovations emanate from aspiring minds. Tomorrow's investment opportunity is most likely held by a middle-class youngster. And they don't come to the rich guy unless he has mechanisms around him to tap into those opportunities. It is easier for them to come down to these levels that matter for their future as well.


Under normal circumstances, they won't come riding their high horses. They will show up already blended into the crowd. They are out sniffing opportunities and winning over positive public perceptions of them.


We have silent tycoons who unbeknownst to neighbours, have fat bank accounts and impressive portfolios. They chose to live in average surroundings to disguise their wealth perhaps because they don't wish to invite the attention of authorities and politicians who might bully them for resources.


Others are simply hiding ill-gotten wealth for obvious reasons. But whatever it is, the rich have reasons to behave like the middle class. In contrast, the middle class only behave rich to look rich.


At any given time, there is someone who is dreaming of leading your lifestyle, yet you too have a dream to lead a rich guy's lifestyle. We have those who prefer a better roof over their farm machinery than over their own homes. There is one group of rich people who never conceal their wealth.


A good number of those who inherited wealth flaunt it like they are paid to do so. These ones never left middle-class status through effort but luck. These types love hanging around the middle-class because their floss mode is appreciated most at this level. We've come across many who are eating life with a big spoon. They neither go far nor does their wealth last long.


We have stunt masters in our midst. Those that behave rich when they have no dime. They get away with things but not all the time. These guys have good cars and are well-dressed. They cut deals with no intention to complete them in a win-win manner. It is their optics that get them past innocent gates. This is where aggressive follow-ups yield court cases of obtaining money under false pretence.


Whatever your style, don't live above your means. It bites hard.

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2 Comments


Philemon Goin
Philemon Goin
Jul 17, 2022

So true

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David Mugun
David Mugun
Jul 17, 2022
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Thanks

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