Misconception #9 - Millionaires Live a Life of Ease. Ask Betty White!
Misconception No.9 -- Millionaires Live a Life of Ease
Many of us envision a millionaire as having an expensive yacht, Rolls Royce, Lear jet and a dozen servants who cater to his every whim. More often a millionaire will have an office and a secretary in order to run the business.
Studies of millionaires' habits indicate that they wear off-the-rack clothing, drive modest cars and eat food purchased from the local grocery store.
Any millionaire who possesses a jet or Rolls usually needs that item for business and can write it off as a business expense.
No Magical Moment...
Wealthy people are very active. There is no great magical moment in which they announce that they are going to quit working since they have reached a landmark financial goal. Life goes on for everyone, rich or poor. Sitting around eating grapes on the divan can get boring very fast for everyone.
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This article is taken from "Born to be Rich." All ten misconceptions can be found here.
Discover the Wealth that has Always Belonged to you.
Comments
The title says it all. I like Betty White she is one of favorite actresses, next Helen Mirren.
Hi I like this article but cannot find the misconceptions. They must be in the book. I know millionaires who dress like paupers. They complain about the price of lipstick. It is very comical, as I am not rich and buy the same lipstick. That is what makes them millionaires. They are frugal. Blessings, Audrey
I saw a photo the other day of Brad Pitt pushing a grocery cart. I laughed at first but then I thought "well duh...of course he shops for food!"
I love Betty White and have for so many years. Had no idea she was a millionaire but she deserves to be!
There is an old saying something to the effect that money may not buy happiness but it eases the misery. Ha! Nice to know that a growing group of billionaires are making pledges to give most of their money away upon their deaths. Many are starting that process even earlier. Hooray to them! Kind hearted people can do much with an excess of money to ease pain and suffering around the world.
Did you know that quite a few of our national parks not to mention state and local parks have come about because of the generosity of wealthy people donating the land? It is true. It is wonderful when things like that can now be enjoyed by everyone instead of just a selected few.
Great hub. I always assume that some of the wealthiest people are unhappy. It's like being a celebrity. Everyone knows of your finances so they address you accordingly. Im sure having the ability to purchase practically anything is nice. But it must get pretty lonely too.
I worked in an inner city law firm for some years. Some of the clients were extremely wealthy. They weren't walking on cloud 9 as some might think. They were actually always on the go, stressing about a lot of responsibilities, and never had much time to stop and smell the roses. I know someone who won millions of dollars, and while they were able to buy a lot of ritzy possessions, they too had a lot of responsibilities that came as a consequence to having money.
That is so useful and fantastic. I voted up.
I hate it when I hear millionairs whin about their life. Celebrieties are the worst. I'm sure they are a lot tighter with their money than we know. Enjoyed your hub voted up.
Dear Reynold Jay : We have a lot of rich relatives in our family. None of them come to see us because we are poor, and have a crippled daughter, and because it might upset their need to have delightful days. Personally I prefer better company anyway, so there is no love lost where there is none for them from our home. God forgive me. I should be more understandeing of greed, but I am not. God forgive me. I also vote up on everything you write because you are a good person. GBY.
RJ, But then you see people like Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey and realize there are rich people who truly do care and try to do something very worthwhile with their fortunes. I hope I would be like that. I think miserable rich people would be miserable poor people and vice versa.
Lisa
I have no doubt that millionaires do lead stressful lives, but at least they can console themselves by dining at fine restaurants and taking trips on their yachts, throw lavish parties to forget their troubles. No I don't feel empathy for them. How many would dirty their shoes walking down an alley of cardboard homes. Oh yes I know many of them give donations to various organizations, most for the publicity and a pat on the back. But they have their eyes tight shut against the real world.
Sorry to sound so cynical I have just come from reading a poem about the homeless, both ends of the spectrum in one morning.
If one chooses to become a millionaire then they have to take the good with the bad. ;-)
I like grapes and divans, but I can see how they would pall after a while. I would like to be in a position to test your theory though.
the millionaires not happy with their lot, i'm sure, are very few since i don't see a lot of them opting for poverty. if given the choice, even if i had been rich and it hadn't worked out, i try again being rich because i know that poor doesn't work for me.
Reynold - Money can't buy happiness. There are some miserable people who are millionaires by being mired in money.
TFP
Mr. Jay! I am really learning a lot from your writings. Many of us do have misconceptions about millionaires. Great lessons and information.
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