Are any Mners on here super rich?

[Felixss]

I don't mean upper middle at least a few million. What's life like what staff do you have? What's your daily routine like?How do you earn your money investments etc. Being nosey.

They see it as a bed of roses, when all it is mostly is it's own particular set of issues and a lot of goalpost shifting from worrying about stuff most normal people would understand to worrying about different stuff that they probably wouldn't. There isn't much peace.

I don't agree with this tbh. I've never been really poor but I have lived where I had to add up going around the supermarket, dreaded being invited to a birthday party because the present would put our budget out etc. Now I can spend pretty much what I want and have the security of no debt and a lot of savings/investments and it definitely is easier and nicer. I still worry about my kids like everyone else in the world but if they have a problem, I can at least throw money and time at it. We could pay for private therapy for one of our children and also take the time to go to therapy sessions with them every week. On minimum wage someone couldn't afford the private fees and also couldn't afford the couple of hours off work.

I'm with Ogden Nash: "the only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure/which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome when you are poor"

I do think a lot of those who inherit a lot of wealth are often troubled. Boston College did a fascinating study on this a few years back.

Someone in my close circle of friends is, but is very private about it. I don’t think you would ever know unless you went to her house. From just meeting her she would seem normal, but middle class.

She works part time in a pretty flexible admin-type job for a charity, husband works full time in good job, but wealth is actually gigantic inheritance from her grandparents very successful business. Their house is worth about £4m with no mortgage and they also own 2 other properties.

They go on some pretty amazing holidays but again don’t post on social media about it or talk about it a lot so you’d only know if you knew her.

They drive normal cars, but kids are privately educated and they do lots of nice things with them eg theatre, trips away etc. And they have a cleaner. But then so do lots of people…

There is actually someone I know less well who appears exceptionally rich and drives various very expensive cars, talks loudly about expensive holidays (eg heliskiing) and I always wonder if they actually are or whether it’s all smoke and mirrors. Clearly they’re not struggling but sometimes the flashy ones actually have less than you think (because they have spent it!).

Is people wealth valued on what's in your account, or what their property/other asset is worth.. because I find that's very different.

I think the only differences I see what I am doing differently to peers is that I am going on more holidays and potentially spending a bit more on the travel/hotels. For long haul flights 4+ hours we tend to travel business for example. Cleaner is here twice a week and we don't have kids just a dog.

Wine guy ha! I love it.

My partner of 6 years is a multi millionaire through the music world. Kind of retired publicly, but still involved behind the scenes. When we met there were tensions because he has to go to the States a lot, and I was grafting away in senior local government, secure with my own house but not wealthy. So long periods apart. I honestly love the bones of him but was worried about losing independence and what would happen if I gave up my job to be able to be with him, and then we split up. That was solved on our "anniversary" when his present of a rental property to me meant that I'd be financially safe even if we did split up. I haven't told anyone this because I can see they will say that I let him buy me. I was once accused of securing my future "on my back".

Anyway, we live quite simple lives with plenty of time for horses and hobbies. I make money from my hobby and the fact that I mix in different circles mean that I can display my work in fantastic places and sell it for great prices.
We don't give mad expensive gifts, what's the point? I'd be frightened to go out in a piece of jewellery worth say £30k. For the rare occasions when that sort of thing is worn it can be hired, and might even get loaned for free.
Most of the shopping comes from Tesco, but it's nice to not think about spending more if there's something I'd like to get from a deli. It's only food though, I don't think you can justify always buying the most expensive, it's fuel.
I lost a lot of friends when we got together. Spongers wanting handouts and some who were plain jealous and nasty. But a great close friend I've known for a very long time lives in a cottage on our property and helps out with the animals, cares for them when we're away. Then there is a lovely bloke who is kind of there to do what's needed - fix fences, bring in workmen when needed, look after the land. And his wife who comes in for cleaning and housekeeping 3 times a week. We clean, iron and cook as well. "Staff" are on decent wages, with accommodation, decent pension schemes and private healthcare.
I feel uncomfortable around quite a lot of his showbiz friends, but have got quite close to just a few. I feel rather like an alien because I have and always will shun plastic surgery, just for example. There's quite a lot of conspicuous spending and drug use as well, which we both steer clear of.
I know this type of post attracts negativity here, but I recognise how lucky I am. I've been on the bones of my arse in the past, it's quite a contrast.
The real difference is being able to quietly support people who need it, and charities. Then also not ever having to think twice and count what's in my purse before buying something I want. Oh, and being able to keep my horses in exactly the way I want to. I had 3 when I was on my own and was in constant battles with livery yard owners.
(Some details changed a bit because I really want to stay anon!).

I don’t entirely agree about inherited wealth. I’m in the super rich income bracket myself but I know a few who are. I was amused recently at a big celebration where I was talking to a guy I know well who is old money but very low-key, you’d never know. We were joined by another guy I only know slightly and everything was in your face, from his clothes, overdone veneers to boasting about his house and lifestyle. It was like a monologue, he was self-made and wanted everybody the know. My friend on the other hand was gracious, attentive and did his best to include those around him in conversations. Money can’t buy manners sadly.

Access to cash really. I know many people epseically older who are very asset rich as in their house is worth millions but cash poor.

🤣🤣🤣
I’ve just spluttered coffee all over my phone!

There is actually someone I know less well who appears exceptionally rich and drives various very expensive cars, talks loudly about expensive holidays (eg heliskiing) and I always wonder if they actually are or whether it’s all smoke and mirrors. Clearly they’re not struggling but sometimes the flashy ones actually have less than you think (because they have spent it!).

I know someone like this. They live a way more expensive life than we do. Multiple expensive holidays per year, really expensive house, flash cars, children do everything - skiiing/language trips/boarding school. full time live in help. It came to light recently that they live way beyond their means and probably always have and owe a serious amount of money and probably are underwater on their mortgage (as in they owe more than the place is worth). They are not young either. It is a house of cards waiting to fall.

Is people wealth valued on what's in your account, or what their property/other asset is worth.. because I find that's very different.

I don't count our homes as part of our assets. they are where we live. They are probably worth another 2 million but then where would we live? Don't count the cars either as they are probably worth very little. We have some decent paintings but who knows what they would fetch. I only count investments and savings.

Exactly. Then you also have the other end. A lot of my friends are earning 200-300k a year and yet their spending is so extortionate still living in average flats etc. So v little cushion because ppl are optimistic they will never lose the earning potential.. people are just different. I, for one, never ever touch my bonus unless is to buy an asset, and my base salary is what support my expenditure /luxury travels.

I would yes to being cash rich. But how much cash is cash rich?

I'd like an island. Something remote and rainy.

And a ha-ha. I've always wanted a ha-ha.

(DH used to work for an ultra-wealthy family based partly in London and partly in Asia, and on the few occasions I met them, the women struck me as the most bored, anhedonic people I'd ever met. It was kind of like being part of a military-industrial complex of Knightsbridge apartments, fleets of cars, two home counties estates, helicopters, stables of polo ponies, each complete with groom, rider, rider's family imported from South America etc.)

Technically my parents fall into this category - their net worth is around £6m. (Only know this because my mum was fretting about money and I finally asked her to just tell me). About half of this is in real estate, we live in an expensive area and they bought a property at a very popular ski area about 20 years ago. Otherwise they have just always been savers. Both inherited a few hundred thousand from parents who were also savers (grandparents were clipping coupons and died in their late 90s with about £2m to be split between 3 children). They don’t have any staff. They have a cleaner every 2 weeks and my mum still worries about the price of tomatoes in the grocery store. They do go on a lot of holidays (don’t live in UK but go to Europe for 3-4 weeks every year, dad spent 6-8 weeks skiing this year, but even that is pretty cheap- they get discounted season skis passes for being older and stay cheap places).

they appear very average for our neighborhood.

there's rich and there's wealth

I would imagine rich is someone who can stop working their cash/savings can support them in their current lifestyle for a few years. That's decent cushion.

Wealth - real wealth is something you earn money on and you can stop working all together and have that middle upper class lifestyle.

Yeah, I quality under your criteria. We have a 7 figure income per year. But honestly it's not a diamonds and lunch with the ladies lifestyle.

husband is an artist and became famous in his circles maybe 10 years ago. Before that he was a lawyer and I worked in corporate middle management. Then he started earning as much through his hobby (art) as he did at work, so he quit his day job. I carried on working for a time until on maternity leave with my second child. By this time he was earning as much is a year as I did in a month so I quit my work.

House wise, we live in a house worth a few million in the country in the south of England. We also have a house in Suffolk worth the same that we rent out as a holiday let. We have two kids, both go to private school. Staff wise, we have a cleaner 20 hrs a week and a part time PA who works on the business term time and covers some child care in the holidays. We also have a gardener 5 hrs a week.

Despite the help, I still do a reasonable amount of housework a day, school runs, evening meals, laundry, house admin, shopping, walk the dog etc etc. I also have a horse who is a significant amount of work. I could have a swanky horse worth five figures, but I don't - I have a horse I "found" in a field in poor condition and we have built an amazing bond together. I spend 3 hours a day with hay in my hair and trying to ride 🤣 it's a work in progress. But it's how I get a sense of achievement and progression now I don't work.

we have 2 cars - I have a SUV and hubby has a sports car. I also have a horse box.

holiday wise, this year we will have 2 weeks in Suffolk and 2 weeks in the Maldives at Christmas.

moneywise, we have an accountant and financial advisor but we pay our taxes and don't try to find "loopholes" - personally I like libraries and want to contribute to our society.

pretty boring really. I don't have manicures or pedicures or hair extensions or a wardrobe full of designer stuff. I don't like shopping. I just try to get on with life and live a life that is fulfilling and happy without that being to the detriment of others.

*would say yes, sorry for bad typing!

@pollykitty I think in your case it would be worth talking to your dad about the way your mum spends money. If you think she could end up bankrupt through overspending it would be worth him sorting his money out so that she only had a set amount per year, if that's possible.

If you stopped working. Your hubby's income will sustain your current outgoing expenditure for perpetuity then that's v good.

My partner's dad's firm gives him a salary as director but he's in music industry.

I am just trying to figure out how do I stop working and how do I have a side hustle income basically as I am getting quite tired of working.

My OH is but you wouldnt know it, nice car, ordinary house, no staff, cooks several days a week. He has everything he “needs”, if we “want” alternatives we can have them, I’m low maintenance anyway but it’s nice to know the reserves are there.
Best of all he lets me be myself, reading this forum I’m very lucky

Not what I'd call rich, but we unknowingly moved in next door to an ex professional footballer (not well known) now sports agent. He's obviously done well as the latter.

We always say we're next to the big white house. Their house is lit up and stands out on the road from a mile away.

They also have a LOT of glass. Great for being nosey. 😂

More recently we've realised the LV trunks are out for a week before the holiday ready for the holiday packing service they use. Hadn't clicked that one before. (2 x adults, 3 kids).
Weekly cleaners
Every holiday the painter goes in and repaints all the walls (we've used him he told us.)
Nanny
Every school holiday is a 5* long haul holiday.
The last kids party had a blow up igloo with a disco in it, giant inflatable footballs, entertainers and an icecream truck on the drive.
Window cleaners/gardners/people to do every maintenance job. They do nothing themselves.
Haven't see a chef though...

I wanted to get away from this shit. But actually we just look on, laugh and think good for them.

And I'll tell you what, his kids are gorgeous, polite and kind to each other.

My aunt works for someone who owns a stately home type business and both she and her husband (owners) were WC but worked their way up, he into banking, sadly now dead. She owns a business to do with the stately home and employs a team of staff including my aunt (elderly) who’s basically a housekeeper/dog walker but also a very good friend now.

I know friends of friends (parents friends) whose wealth was built up by hard work and are asset rich and would employ cleaner/gardener etc but not a chef.

Younger richer types, ex boss had some of these as clients. The odd one had a housekeeper/chef but a few were foreign. HNWI. Some were ok, some were snobby and rude. That’s life! You could tell they’d come from humble backgrounds some, or just been born “rich”.

Well, there must be some given we get posts asking 'Shall we send our son Eton or Winchester'? etc (let's face itpeople for whom that is a dilemma need to have places to ask those questions!). And you have to have pretty much megabucks to go to those these days, or people talking about moving from the suburbs and buying a family home in central London - that's going to take several million at least.

'If you stopped working. Your hubby's income will sustain your current outgoing expenditure for perpetuity then that's v good.'

This is my situation but I would be nervous if he was the only earner, I like having a job for myself just so that I won't be left in a mess if something happened to him (or a relationship breakdown, illness etc).

DH and I are worth about £20m if we sold our business and houses. Kids all went to top public schools, we have a few very nice cars (Porsche 911 Turbo, Range Rover etc) and a few shabby ones! (Old Defender, a van and an old horse lorry etc). I have a cleaner twice a week, a gardener twice a week, a lawn service company, an ironing lady and a window cleaner. I have all the bed linen in the house professionally washed and ironed at the dry cleaners every week. Walk my own dogs though!
DH shoots and hunts. Horses are in full livery. We don't ski and we don't go on lots of exotic holidays, mainly to friends villas/apartments around the world, which is a reciprocal arrangement and money doesn't change hands.
House is an old Rectory, 7 bedrooms and over 10 acres, with woods etc. We also have a Norfolk cottage and a small flat in St Johns Wood.

We go to village pubs a lot. Its a great leveler - no one judges you