I grew up in outer London, surrounded by very competitive people. At university I was constantly surprised at peers (from very different backgrounds to my relatively poor one) whose families already had money, money which in some cases was already theirs through gift or inheritance, choosing fairly stressful, unpleasant, perceived as high status careers such as merchant banking when they had freedom that most don't. Then there is the phenomenon I've noticed over the years when people seek to energetically downplay the perceived financial security of their own parents/families, highlighting say lack of holidays or a parental period of unemployment in an otherwise secure background. I wonder if both are motivated by a desire for the social status perceived to accrue in direct proportion to the perceived financial and social distance travelled. So either by accruing wealth you don't need, or trying to push back the perceived starting point, they seek out this status.