Why are extremely successful people feared, even envied by others?

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   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   Why are extremely successful people feared, even envied by others?
   
   

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   keyenhancerposted 9 years ago

   The simple answer is jealously. I also think that a bit of intimidation may be there. Someone who's wealthier is often seen as bigger, more in league with a higher a power. We are also often intimidated by people we admire and are jealous of.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer!

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   Kiss andTalesposted 9 years ago

   People in general can envy a poor person, example , longer hair , no money, a cute face, no money, a beautiful body, no money, a person who is loved by many no money, and if it is money and success they envy  , why envy  what a person can lose, many have been rich and lost their wealth. 
   Wealth can lose value like anything else , the wisdom is don't count on it. The great depression was a lesson to learn.

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   Tusitala Tomposted 9 years ago

   I can only submit my own opinion here, not that of others, but I certainly have no fear of 'extremely successful' people.   Some envy, yes, particularly when I was younger and held a belief so common to many that success equates to fame and fortune.  But most of that envy has departed.   Fame has just as much 'downside' as 'up.'
   
   Fortunately for me, I live in a country which is pretty well 'egalitarian' and classes and class distinction are weak to the point of being practically none-existent.  Here, in this nation anyone can call a Prime Minister or billionaire by his first name and not be regarded as rude or impertinent.
   
   But as far as successful people being feared...Well, I suppose if you were one of their employees, or someone they could take umbrage at, well, there could be some fear.  But here in Aussie Land that would be rare indeed.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great synopsis of the question at hand.

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   Ana Kolomekaposted 9 years ago

   The reason I'm answering this question under my pen name (I am Yoleen Lucas) is because of a conversation I had last night with a good friend of mine who lives in my beloved Pacific Northwest.  She has often criticized me for my frugal habits, hard work, and refusal to complain about the times we live in.  She thinks I'm naïve because I believe the world, for the most part, is actually improving.  She has even gotten on my case because I didn't have the courage to drop everything and return to the Pacific Northwest at the time she moved there, 6 years ago.  I explained to her that though I am experiencing hard times, this is just about the best I've ever had things go for me, and I didn't dare mess with it.
   I don't envy her for living in my beloved Pacific Northwest because over the past 6 years, she has moved 8 times, bounced around on at least 4 jobs with long periods of unemployment in between, and had 3 boyfriends, two of whom supported her and one who was abusive.  One of the supportive boyfriends died and left her all his property, including a house; she sold it and blew the profits within a year.
   I do not envy her, because this is NOT my definition of success! 
   I do get bouts of jealousy, but rarely, because I know that a lot of hard work and planning goes behind fame and fortune.  Abraham Lincoln once said that good luck happens when preparation and opportunity meet.  I'll keep working on my books, making contacts and doing the improvements they suggest; hopefully, my good luck will happen soon!
   P.S.  I have met some stars; I felt intimidated by them, but discovered one secret to their success is that they love what they do.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer indeed.

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