because they want to minimize the haters they pick up along the way.

 

I've seen a lot of this. I work in the golf industry, and have only worked at higher end private clubs for the better part of 6 year (okay, one winter down at Troon North, which was public, but still $300 a round, so higher end) so I've been surrounded by somewhat wealthy and truly wealthy people every day for a while.

Currently my club I'd classify as wealthy. It's the highest rated club in Arizona, top 50 in the country, and you have to own a property to be a member (the whole area is gated). Granted, it opened in the late 80's and we have some members who have been here that long, they bought their place for $75,000, keep paying dues, and life's good. Other's are new, spent $1-4 million on a home (second home mind you, we're ~2 hours outside of Phoenix where the majority of our members live) and pay continual dues. Regardless, take the retirees out (a small section) and every member would be what you'd refer to as financially successful. Of the membership (~800 or so plus kids and spouses) most don't mention money or possesions. I occaisionally get shit (sometimes kidding, sometimes not) about getting paid too much after they see the car I drive (golf professionals as a rule get paid shit, if it wasn't for my stint in real estate I wouldn't own an S2000) but most of the people are pretty cool about money.

Then there's the guy that wants you to think he's worth $50 million. And he's nowhere near it. He's leasing his 7 series, renting his house in Scottsdale, and mortgaged to all hell on his place up here. He's cheap, doesn't tip worth shit, but talks very loudly about the next new thing he's going to buy or next club he's going to join.

There aren't many of those, but there are some. More than I'd imagined when I first started.

To contrast it, this winter I worked at a high end course in Hawaii. It's not widely known, very private, and truthfully one of the most exclusive clubs in the country. Two guys own it, they do extensive background checks (security guys are former spooks), and don't want exposure. They have a strict "No Asshole" policy, and if you can't adhere to it, you're gone (doesn't matter if you're an employee or member, they toss you just as quick either way.)

I've played a lot of highly rated golf courses, this one shits on all of them, but they don't allow people to rate it. They don't want it on the map. Of the 160 members, over half are billionaires;. I'd meet a member for the first time, typically very laid back and normal guy, go home and google him only to find out he sold his business last year for $7 billion or his firm currently manages over $90 billion. It was a bit surreal for the first month or so. Every now and then I'd see a famous name on the tee sheet for the next day, low and behold, that celebrity would show up, oftentimes stoked they got to come out to play.

Buy in for the course in a quarter of a million, which is childs play for any of these guys, but you have to be asked to pony it up. Thing is, with the exception of the occaisional stock talk, there was virtually no discussion of money. Out there no one cared. These guys had so much money they realized money didn't define them, it was just one part of them. They were oftentimes eager to distribute advice, and ultimately were normal guys. You meet them on the street you'd assume they're pulling down ~$50k a year. Not that they shy away from spending money. Most of these guys have multiple homes, many on the Pacific Ocean in several different states. Most had private planes. A lotta SL500/600/55/65's just for the couple of weeks a year they spend on the island. You compliment them on the car, and they say thanks, and truly smile. These guys didn't let jealousy and pettiness get in the way.

One couple bought a FJ Cruiser the week before I left. They were so proud of it and so happy with it. I'd gotten to know this couple over the winter, and with their background I'd estimate the husbands worth ~$500 million. On the mainland he's got several Ferrari's, but he was so stoked with his FJ. I found that really funny. Not one person raised their eyebrows though. No one cared that their new island car wasn't fancy enough or was too out there. It was there choice, and hey, they're happy, so cool.


I think some of the amount of downplay is so people don't gawk. When you're top 25 wealthiest people in the world, you don't need to tell people. Either they know, and hey good for them, or they don't...and just as good. These guys were past caring what people thought about them. And yes, they tipped VERY well.

Sorry for the wall of text, and the occaisional tangent (with matching parenthesis ). This is a topic I think about every now and then, and it cracks me up.

 

My father is retired with a paid-for 3 bedroom home in OC, seven figures in his retirement account, and a large plot of land back in another state. He tells my mom to get oranges from the grocery store, but "only if they aren't to expensive". He remarked to me the other day that he really likes the Angus burger at McDonalds, but it's not right to spend $6 for a fast food meal.

I don't get it.

 

Exactly my point. Hopefully they are taking some nice vacations or doing something fun with the $, or plan to at some point??

 

I think they are well off because that's the way they are.

 

You think that's bad, try NJ. Our house is valued at $176k for tax purposes, and our taxes are $10k/yr.

If they ever re-evaluate our house, we'll be paying at least twice that

 

if you meant schuylkill PA, i was just there on the weekend!

 

WTF were you doing in PA? Looking for some AMISH shit? Burlap clothing ftw!

 

went to the hindu temple there....well, because i'm hindu.

hindus FTW!!!

 

****ing hindu's.....

cracka's ftw!