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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The more money you have, the less morals?

15 replies

Nachosgivingheartburn · 20/02/2026 22:56

As in the big big bucks…

Do billionaires basically become psychopaths.
Does having anything you want dull every basic happiness in life

I mean, ffs

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FaceEatingLeopard · 20/02/2026 22:59

I’d say you probably need to be short on morals to achieve billionaire status in the first place.

Fewer morals BTW. The difference between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’ is an important one. You’re welcome.

SodOffbacktoaibu · 20/02/2026 22:59

I've been wondering this. I'm a fan of the TV show Industry. It is written by smart people who were in the banking world and it certainly seems to show how money corrupts.

It's probably more complex psychologically speaking. Chicken and egg. Does mega wealth corrupt and turn you into a psycho or are psychopaths good at making money. I mean, I can see how a lack of morality would help in getting rich.

Nachosgivingheartburn · 20/02/2026 23:05

FaceEatingLeopard · 20/02/2026 22:59

I’d say you probably need to be short on morals to achieve billionaire status in the first place.

Fewer morals BTW. The difference between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’ is an important one. You’re welcome.

Yes, very true, only a certain type of person attains that level of wealth I suppose

You’re right. It was too late to edit and posted without thinking

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Nachosgivingheartburn · 20/02/2026 23:06

SodOffbacktoaibu · 20/02/2026 22:59

I've been wondering this. I'm a fan of the TV show Industry. It is written by smart people who were in the banking world and it certainly seems to show how money corrupts.

It's probably more complex psychologically speaking. Chicken and egg. Does mega wealth corrupt and turn you into a psycho or are psychopaths good at making money. I mean, I can see how a lack of morality would help in getting rich.

Yes, exactly, as said above

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FaceEatingLeopard · 20/02/2026 23:08

Thanks for taking that in the spirit it was intended!

TheUsualChaos · 20/02/2026 23:13

I think often people who become billionaires are more likely to possess personality traits that are to the very extremes of humanity. They are likely to be non conforming, high risk takers who don't care about conflict or negative reactions. They aren't constrained by emotion and fairness. The more money and power they get, the more it fuels their tendency towards believing they are infallible.

Nachosgivingheartburn · 20/02/2026 23:18

TheUsualChaos · 20/02/2026 23:13

I think often people who become billionaires are more likely to possess personality traits that are to the very extremes of humanity. They are likely to be non conforming, high risk takers who don't care about conflict or negative reactions. They aren't constrained by emotion and fairness. The more money and power they get, the more it fuels their tendency towards believing they are infallible.

Yes exactly.

I was watching Lex Wexner testifying today (not saying he is guilty of any wrongdoing, we don’t know yet)
He’s obviously old now, but he seems like a normal, family man, but as a billionaire, he’s just not going to be is he

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NotMeAtAll · 20/02/2026 23:25

I think it depends. People in arts, sports, and entertainment can make a lot of money based on their talent.

PruthePrune · 20/02/2026 23:27

JK Rowling AFAIK donated her way to millionaire status. That was a while ago now so she might be a billionaire again. She seems to be a compassionate person.

BMW6 · 20/02/2026 23:31

But there are plenty of poor people who are absolute trash so I can't agree that it's money that causes immorality.

TheUsualChaos · 20/02/2026 23:33

Yes indeed, talent and a lot of "right place, right time" involved. But vanishingly few from the arts become billionaires and even then they are low tier compared to the top players in the finance and tech worlds.

Wexner and his ilk, absolutely not a normal guy. We are led to believe that governments are in charge. They aren't. It's these guys.

Glaspeated · 20/02/2026 23:38

Unless you inherit it, billionaires are not ordinary people. They don’t think like most people, they’re exceptionally driven, they’re prepared to take risks that other people wouldn’t, and they’re imbued with confidence, self-belief and (usually) a mind-boggling work ethic. They devote their whole existence, their whole life, to the acquisition of money. Ergo, their moral compass may also be different to the average man or woman in the street.

You don’t become a billionaire by accident.

Nachosgivingheartburn · 21/02/2026 00:18

TheUsualChaos · 20/02/2026 23:33

Yes indeed, talent and a lot of "right place, right time" involved. But vanishingly few from the arts become billionaires and even then they are low tier compared to the top players in the finance and tech worlds.

Wexner and his ilk, absolutely not a normal guy. We are led to believe that governments are in charge. They aren't. It's these guys.

He seems quite normal, it’s frightening..has a wife, four children I think…

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JustAnotherWhinger · 21/02/2026 00:22

I think the more money you have the more lives you can impact, your reach is wider.

when that’s good it great, but when it’s nasty or evil then it’s causing devastation on a larger scale.

Small time drug dealers, for example, devastate a small number of lives. The big time guys have vastly more money, their reach is larger, and they devastate more lives.

Same with predators. The more money and poor they have, the wider their reach can be.

the intentions or internal nastiness can be the same. The big money folks just have less barriers to hurting more people.

weareallcats · 21/02/2026 00:28

Changed my mind.

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