AIBU to think being wealthy is vastly overrated?

This is surely a wind up!!!
If not it is obnoxious boasting.

I know lots of very Wealthy people, the very last thing they would do would come on to a forum telling people how Wealthy they are, very strange.. Wealthy people keep to themselves especially when it comes to how Wealthy they are and never discuss actually numbers of what they earn or are much they are worth ! If this is a true post I think you need therapy and need to get a 'hobby' because it is one thing posting about Schools or the Government and another thing bosting about how Wealthy you are and how bored you are at the same time !

My parents became rich after I left home by selling their business and it never seemed to make them happy so I believe you. We were solid middle class growing up and I had a nice childhood but they became VERY wealthy. I saw them build two huge houses, buy boats and other ‘toys’, nice cars, travel first class everywhere etc. And no they didn’t give me loads of money either. Anyway, every phone call was a series of complaints and strains and life is so hard. It became so tiresome. They never seemed to relax or really enjoy it, it was more like ‘we must make exciting plans to show everyone how much money we have’. I found it so odd. My mom used to complain about the cost of everything, my DH and I were like, but you can afford it…? And they never connected their costs to their ownership. Two huge houses cost a shit ton of money to run. I think the secret is to realize more doesn’t make you happier.

😂Obviously troll is obvious.

If the OP lives in America then the attitude to money there is quite different to here.
In America it is the GOD. All is ruled by it. All people are judged by how much they have. Winners or losers.

Yes I see what you are saying. Unfortunately you don't. You are in reality boasting and at the same expressing disappointment that being rich has not made you happy. You feel sorry for yourself that wealth has not made you happy and angry as you have devoted your life to this goal. You want to know if other rich people are as disappointed as you and the answer is yes. Give it to a good cause - like people who don't have food or water for example. Then perhaps you will spend less time gazing at your navel.

@ForLoudBrickMember when did you start investing and are you passive /active or both ?

I knew before I opened the thread that you would be wealthy 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m pleased for you that you are in such a comfortable position but stating being wealthy is vastly over-rated is definitely only something someone wealthy would say 😂 for your average Tom, dick or harry or Glenda down the road who is just about managing (if they are lucky!) then no, being wealthy isn’t over-rated - the worries when they get their gas/electric bill lands orn their doormat or the kids need new school shoes etc - being wealthy would be a blessing 🤷🏼‍♀️

You make a million quid on a year profit from investments, why do the oncology job too?
That is probably a source of stress, lack of time etc even if it’s only part time, so giving that up will both free up some time and eradicate some of the stress.
You could also, if you like, put a bit more time and effort into managing your investments, you’re clearly a talented investor.

Have you seen this for families fortunate to be able to go on Holiday. It looks like Burnham is getting desperate now.
Andy Burnham's tourism tax will stop millions enjoying a cheap holiday

Struggling financially is a source of chronic stress and feelings of hopelessness. Money gives you choices whereas most of us are trapped. You could quit the stressful occupations and just live off the investments. That could be a wonderful life but I guess you are both too driven to consider that. Perhaps you fear poverty also from your childhood experience. I often ask myself when I meet ambitious people who could work far less and no longer need so much money - not what they are running towards but what are they running away from. I cannot meet the first of the months bills next week, have a huge unpaid tax bill for my business and my adrenaline is so high I cannot take propwr breaths for days. Money worries are second only to health worries and I could certainly live without

Obviously YABU. This is not about having wealth, this is about your other life choices. Noone is forcing you to compete or keep up with the Joneses.

What bollocks. I’m stupidly wealthy and love it. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So you are only 35 and you £2 million a year? Stop in 3 years time and enjoy the time that money will buy you. I am 41 had first child at 35 because I couldn't afford but earn just under £90k a year, enough to cover a mortgage on an average home in South of UK. We can hardly afford to do much else. I appreciate how you help people in your job, but take a step back and realise how much time your wealth could buy you by simply stopping work and enjoying time with your children or to part time. Seriously you have so much money. I would have stopped working by then. Instead I consider when my life can end.

Read the room

Ask yourself, “What would Dolly do?” Use your wealth for good if it upsets you so much.

I think it depends whether it's inherited/family wealth or self made wealth.

Family wealth, I think would be nice, but self-made often comes from having made huge sacrifices and working ridiculously hard, most of the time. I wouldn't want that, personally. I think the sweet spot, is being comfortably off with no worries about money and having a middling career/profession that doesn't require non-stop work. Unfortunately, the salaries on those jobs often haven't kept up with the cost of living and people aren't so comfortable in these roles these days.

🎻

I’m glad things are going well for you - it must feel surreal to have that level of financial security.
If you ever feel like using a little of it to genuinely help someone in need, I’m a victim of domestic violence and currently in repossession proceedings and I have children. My ex-partner emptied all of our bank accounts, which has left me in a really difficult position. I’m also a legal professional, a solicitor, doing everything I can to stabilise things, but right now any support would make a real difference.
No pressure at all — just sharing honestly in case you’re someone who likes to help others when you’re in a strong position.

You could of course give some away to charity but you will you?

"People earning the average wage can still afford a comfortable house, decent car, food, occasional holiday etc"

Lol

I’ve seen this in friends - they earn a lot but sacrifice a lot to make that happen in terms of time and mental energy - then commit to a lifestyle, which is basically just really expensive versions of what most middle-class people have (mortgage, cars, holidays, clothes, etc.) . So they’re not really noticing or enjoying those things: grabbing a jumper from the wardrobe is not an exciting moment every single time just because it’s high quality cashmere. You wake up in the night to pee and the experience is no more enjoyable just because you wash your hands under designer taps.
How long till you retire? If you reduced your patient list and worked less would you enjoy the time more than you miss the extra income?

Also if you make £1 million from active investments, your capital must be substantially more. Live off that.

Partner oncologists earn high incomes because their private practices generate massive ancillary revenues—particularly through "buy-and-bill" chemotherapy and in-house infusion services.Key Drivers of High CompensationInfusion and Drug Margins: Private clinics buy high-cost cancer drugs and bill insurers (including Medicare) at a higher rate. The profit margins from managing busy on-site infusion suites often match or exceed the income made from direct doctor consultations.High Clinical Demand: An aging U.S. population and a persistent national shortage of specialists mean patient volumes are exceptionally high, fueling rapid productivity metrics (wRVUs).Long Training Pipeline: Becoming an oncologist requires a 3-year internal medicine residency followed by a 3-year subspecialty fellowship, restricting the overall supply of qualified doctors.Partnership Dividends: Unlike salaried hospital employees, practice owners split the collective profits of the business, capturing revenue from lab work, imaging, and efficient patient throughput.Would you like to explore:How the buy-and-bill model works legally and financially in U.S. healthcare?How U.S. oncology pay compares to national health systems like the UK's NHS?AI responses may include mistakes. Learn moreis it moral to earn that muchThe question of whether it is moral for partner oncologists to earn such high incomes is a subject of significant ethical debate. The discussion involves competing views on the value of medical expertise, business ethics, and the systemic cost of healthcare.Arguments Supporting the Morality of High EarningsValue of Specialized Expertise: Supporters argue that saving lives and treating complex, life-threatening illnesses justifies a high premium. The compensation reflects the immense responsibility and high-stakes nature of the work.Extensive Education and Debt: Becoming an oncologist requires over a decade of rigorous training, including four years of medical school, a three-year residency, and a three-year fellowship. Oncologists often begin practicing in their early 30s, frequently carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.Business Risk and Investment: Practice partners act as entrepreneurs. They take on significant financial liability, invest capital into advanced medical equipment, manage complex operations, and employ support staff, which entitles them to the profits generated by the business.Workload and Burnout: Oncologists face high rates of emotional and physical burnout due to long hours and the emotional toll of dealing with terminal illnesses, justifying higher financial rewards to attract talent.Arguments Critiquing the Morality of High EarningsProfit from Illness: Critics argue that healthcare is a fundamental human right. Under this view, generating multi-million dollar corporate profits directly from patients fighting life-threatening diseases is seen as ethically problematic.Ancillary Revenue Inefficiencies: A large portion of a partner’s high income stems from drug markups in the "buy-and-bill" system rather than direct patient care. This system has been criticized for creating misaligned incentives, potentially encouraging the prescription of higher-priced therapies over equally effective, lower-cost alternatives.Systemic Financial Strain: High specialist compensation contributes to the rising cost of U.S. healthcare, leading to high insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical bills that can drive families to financial ruin or bankruptcy.Global Disparity: Compared to other developed nations with universal healthcare systems, where oncologists are well-compensated but rarely earn seven-figure incomes, the U.S. model is viewed by some as an outlier driven by commercialization rather than healthcare necessity

You could pay of my crippling mortgage if you want, it would cheer me up.

perhaps partake in some volunteer work with people less fortunate than yourself? May help you appreciate your position.

i work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. There a lots of parents who can’t afford to put meals on the table for their kids. the kids end up in gangs, running drug lines, being exploited. They are not happy. The sort of money you are talking about is unfathomable and could change many people’s lives. You and your children are in a very privileged position

I am a UK hospital consultant. I am 55, kids early 20s. We have a big London mortgage. I work fulltime in the NHS and it’s getting tougher. But the actual patient work is still so rewarding. We have one abroad and a UK holiday a year. We are surrounded by close friends and family.

I am content and feel valued and loved. Life isn’t easy and money would make things easier. But I wouldn’t change much in my life and am perhaps happier than you. Who knows!