Of course, I’d do all the obvious things, such as getting a bigger house, a newer car, and quitting work, but beyond that, I have no interest in an extravagant lifestyle—or at least that’s what I tell myself.
By a bigger house, I mean one typical of upper-middle-class living. I’ve watched plenty of videos of people touring million-dollar mansions, and they all look too big, open, and sterile to me. I’ve seen cozier tiny homes than those. And by a newer car, I mean a 2017 model or so instead of the 2007 one I drive now.
Really, give me a nice cottage by the lake with some land and a big garage for all my tools and toys, and I’m all set. I much prefer the idea of “hidden wealth” over showing it off. I’m just kind of worried that I wouldn’t be able to live up to my own expectations if push comes to shove, and there’s really no way of testing that. Am I just kidding myself here?
I feel the same way about fame. Many people aspire to become successful YouTubers or such, but the idea of people recognizing me on the street sounds awful.
It depends on how much money it is, and whether you keep it all.
If the amount were, say, less than 10 million, you’d probably do exactly what you say. If the amount were more but you gave a bunch away to have around 10 mil or less, same thing.
If the amount is billions and you keep it all for yourself, that’s when it starts doing things to you. In order to keep that for yourself, you have to justify it internally–why is it you deserve this money while others are struggling? The only way to justify it is to demonize the poor–believing that poverty is a moral failing, or otherwise believing that you’re better than others.
Extreme wealth hoarding is bad for everyone–both the poor and the rich.