How can you tell is someone is faking wealth?

[Teadrinker11]

When the hell is someone genuinely wealthy rather than just trying to be all flash but when in truth there's no real money behind the facade?

I have known some very, very wealthy people indeed. They tend to be very genuine, don't care about 'labels' and designer stuff, don't brag about costs or wealth at all. They may have huge mansions but will have holes in the carpet "because it's their favourite" and will wear very ordinary clothes.

Those pretending are only interested in status, high end places, designer clothes, swanky holidays, "flash" cars....it's all show, trying to prove a point. Real wealth doesn't need to prove anything at all.

The other things is a lot of people who lots of people would consider wealthy don't consider themselves wealthy! Because there is always someone wealthier, and wealthy people tend to have wealthy peers. Not always true of course, but, for example, anyone sending their children to private school would be considered wealthy by a lot of people.

But if you have children at private school, you will be surrounded by people who can also afford that, some of whom will be considerably wealthier.

My dad is very flush, you wouldn’t know it looking at him though, Nike trackies and T-shirts, not polished, just a normal looking man, doesn’t own any expensive designer clothing, has a modest house, only thing he has that screams money is a very expensive car.

I totally agree with PP, money shouts and wealth whispers.

What do you consider wealthy? The answers on this thread make me think of 7 figure incomes + 7 figure investments/savings and a high level of equity in home ownership.

I only know wealthy old money, and basically they don't drive flash cars.
There's something plummy about the voice, and they're generally very polite in public.

I've been lucky enough to fly first class a few times and stay in very posh hotels. Always been amazed at how scuffy 'rich' people dress. Lots of high quality but old looking clothes. Scuffed shoes, jumpers with holes in them etc. People who are rich don't wear designer or flashy clothes, they just buy quality and wear it for years.

Yup wealthy people definitely don’t show it off!

I dont find that people talk about money much (not amongst the people i know anyway) but everyone i know claims to not be able to afford things when they can. People i know like to say they are skint when they are not.

Fakers are all about boasting. They also pay for an awful lot of stuff on credit cards.

Real wealthy people are quiet about it.

Are they shilling MLM ? Yes - it’s fake.
Have they ‘forgotten their wallet?’ Yes - it’s fake.
Do they have a bodyguard called Peter? Yes - it’s fake.

I’ve seen a thread like this before. Is this topic brought up so people can fake wealth more convincingly?

In answer to your question I think people faking it will be more interested in the image. But I don’t think being wealthy has a specific look.

@Isanyholeagoal

I find that people who are genuinely wealthy don’t flaunt the fact. Those that portray the rich lifestyle all over social media are the ones who seem to rent cars and air b&b’s for photo oops

Definitely this. They play it down instead of showing off and trying to keep up with everyone else.

@Itshothothot

I dont find that people talk about money much (not amongst the people i know anyway) but everyone i know claims to not be able to afford things when they can. People i know like to say they are skint when they are not.

Yes same here. I think pleading poverty is much more common.

@Teadrinker11

When the hell is someone genuinely wealthy rather than just trying to be all flash but when in truth there's no real money behind the facade?

Money shouts,wealth whispers😉

I used to say the really rich don't flaunt it and that's true in many cases, but surely there are enough examples of pop stars, footballers etc (who we can assume are fairly wealthy) living very flash lifestyles, to know that flashy doesn't automatically mean there's no money there?

I think usually, if you're close enough to someone to be thinking about their money, you'd know where their money comes from and whether that adds up.

And yes, if they're rich they won't need loans from you.

Also, my Grandad used to say you can only con a greedy man. If you're not the kind of person who's looking for someone with money, you won't get sucked in by someone who appears to have money

I actually agree with a pp that it takes time to work it out.
I have a friend who has a very successful business and sometimes she goes out head to toe in designer, loud prints etc. She genuinely has lots of money, v expensive house, car and holidays that couldn't be faked. Obviously if you judged her by her clothes most of you would assume she was faking it. I (and my wider family too) fall into the category of expensive good quality clothes but very understated. I drive a nice car, nothing flashy, but that's more a case of wanting a comfortable safe car to drive my DC around in. My DM can't part with her 25 year old car, her choice though as she's driving dogs around and not children.

Through my work I “know” (as in we’d say hi to each other if we saw each other in the street/at a shop/work connected event but we’re not friends) a VERY wealthy lady (Times Rich List wealthy!). She’s very unassuming, I remember her mentioning that she buys clothes at Jigsaw, so high-end High Street but not what I’d call designer. On a day to day basis she drives a beat up old VW Golf, though has a posh car for events and I’ve frequently seen her scouring the discounted items in Tesco.

If you saw her in the street you’d think she was an eccentric older lady (she’s has a distinctive look, you can spot her a mile off) but you’d never consider her to be a billionaire!

They have a swanky car but live in a tiny flat.

I think it’s the flashy ness and showing off their wealth that often indicates someone is faking it. We are very comfortably off and we have nice cars but nothing over the top and we don’t post on social media when we buy a new one. We have the odd nice holiday but again nothing flashy, just good quality accommodation and quite often in the U.K. we don’t go out to expensive places, our favourite restaurant is a modest budget place but we enjoy the food and atmosphere. We aren’t particularly interested in clothes, as long as they are good quality. I buy high street clothes that will last me several years at a time, and have never felt the need to buy a designer bag. I do have some very expensive jewellery but most people wouldn’t know their true value and again I don’t go bragging about it/ posting on social media.

I associate people faking it with posting pictures of designer clothes/ bags, extravagant holidays and nights out, luxury holidays etc in social media. Also people talking about the cost of things. I was at a meal with some people I didn’t know very well recently, and one of the women there managed to casually drop into the conversation the price of several holidays, pieces of jewellery and her shoes (none of which was relevant to the conversation but she couldn’t help it). In her case I do think she was being honest, but that is how I imagine people being when they are faking wealth.

honestly people on MN have no idea whatsoever. Some of the stuff people are coming out with show a total lack of knowledge in this area, sorry! Also there is a very bizarre thing on MN about PCP cars when in actual fact a PCP car makes the most fiscal sense due to the depreciation value of a car, and is essentially like having a mortgage on something you own; not the same as leasing.

People saying no designer stuff is just 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s just designers like Loro Piana without labels. But certainly designer handbags. And private planes.

They pay their bills (even if they haggle hard first) and pay their voluntary subscriptions. Their staff are paid on time.

What I agree with is people who go on about it generally have none/nothing substantial.

@DetailMouse

I used to say the really rich don't flaunt it and that's true in many cases, but surely there are enough examples of pop stars, footballers etc (who we can assume are fairly wealthy) living very flash lifestyles, to know that flashy doesn't automatically mean there's no money there?

I think usually, if you're close enough to someone to be thinking about their money, you'd know where their money comes from and whether that adds up.

And yes, if they're rich they won't need loans from you.

Yes I agree.

Many of the 'money talks, wealth whispers' stereotypes listed here are probably not as true in this day and age.

The Beckhams dont seem shy at the obvious nature of their wealth. Footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo and his Girlfriend appear to reveal in wearing their wealth on their sleeves. The Kardashians hit you between the eyes with theirs.

I know they are famous wealthy, but I think this has filtered down to a cohort of your normal wealthy too.

I think it started with the 'loadsa money' City Boys in the 80s and went from there. Many people like being rich and they like to display their success. Some don't.

I agree that truly wealthy people don’t really flaunt it overtly.

My uncle was a self-made millionaire and I never saw him wear anything other than scruffy tracker bottoms and a t-shirt, or Hawaiian shirts. On a day to day basis he drove a knackered white van and his house, whilst large was nothing flash. His one concession to wealth was a Bentley, that he kept garaged most of the time and used at weekends.