For many people, being extremely wealthy is seen as the ultimate prize and the key to a life of glamorous ease. But having huge amounts of money can actually lead to a bewildering number of problems. Research, such as this study by Princeton University, has shown that people don't actually feel any happier after they earn over a certain amount of money. Read on as we explore the myriad of issues that the uber-rich have to face, which might make you feel grateful that you're not one of them.
The most comprehensive study into whether being super-rich makes you happy was conducted in 2017 by researchers at the prestigious Harvard Business School. As well as surveying 4,000 millionaires, they also reviewed all previous related analyses to give them as broad a picture as possible. The study concluded that only those who earned their wealth, as opposed to inheriting or marrying into it, reported significantly higher levels of wellbeing.
Interestingly, the same study revealed that the majority of millionaires surveyed said that, to be perfectly happy, they'd have to grow their wealth significantly, with the majority stating that they'd need to increase it by a huge 1,000% to feel happy. A mere 13% of those quizzed said they could achieve perfect happiness with the money that they already had. The meaning? For the majority, what they already have just isn't quite enough.
One of the major downsides to being super-rich is the amount of hate you invariably get. A recent study by Ohio State University and Cornell University found that most people resent the mega-wealthy as a socioeconomic class, yet admire individual billionaires. Other surveys have shown that many ordinary folk consider the richest members of society to be greedy, dishonest people who don't pay enough taxes, and are to blame for wealth inequality.
Crime is one of the major worries of the super-rich, and for very good reason. Being uber-affluent makes you a prime target for a whole host of crooks. These can include cyber thieves hacking into an offshore account, burglars breaking into your mansion, muggers relieving you of your Rolex, kidnappers holding you for ransom, and so on.
Wealth has the potential to be corrupting and can eat away at your moral fibre. Why? Having lots of money can make some people feel as if they are above the law, giving them a tendency to exhibit less in the way of compassion and empathy. Studies have shown that the rich are more likely to ignore traffic laws and drive recklessly, not to mention cheat on their taxes, and their partners. And, believe it or not, the affluent are also more likely to shoplift.
Research from the management consultancy Prince & Associates has found that a whopping 80% of people with a net worth in excess of $20 million (£15.1m) fret about getting sued. And no wonder. Being mega-wealthy is statistically proven to increase your chances of being hit with a lawsuit, whether it's for a minor supercar accident or your cockapoo biting someone when on a stroll with your dog walker.
Even if you do find someone who really loves you, you may struggle to make the relationship work. Two in-depth studies by psychologists at Canada's Waterloo University have revealed that rich people are less likely than the less well-off to be flexible and show empathy in their romantic relationships, which can lead to all sorts of interpersonal problems.
As well as having trust and other issues in romantic relationships, being super-rich can also make you doubt whether your friends are genuine or if they simply like you because of your money. Would they drop you like a hot brick if you suddenly lost everything? These doubts can be pervasive, making you feel insecure, and impacting your self-esteem.
Many of the mega-wealthy can complain that they're expected to pay for everything, or are constantly badgered for handouts or loans from their less affluent friends and family. Expensive meals out in Michelin-starred restaurants, tickets to the theatre or opera, or that luxury break will typically be all your responsibility to cover, which can cause no end of resentment on your part.
And it's not just people you know who will tap you up for cash. Being super-rich means you'll probably be swamped with begging letters and emails from genuinely and (not-so genuinely) hard-up strangers, who will tug on your heartstrings in a bid to benefit from your riches. A couple from Suffolk, England won $196 million (£148m) on the Euromillions lottery in 2012. Shortly after their win, they estimated that they received between 30 to 40 requests for money from complete strangers each week.
You may think that having rich parents can give children a head start in life, and in most cases you'd be correct. After all, super-rich kids are likely to attend elite private schools and have tutors to help them excel at exams, as well as have the means to study at the finest universities. But some wealthy youngsters can also have little motivation to do well in life and can waste the opportunities that a privileged upbringing provides.
Another issue with moneyed kids is that they can become incredibly spoilt. Giving them everything they ask for isn't necessarily in their best interests and this style of parenting can produce obnoxious brats with an inflated sense of entitlement, which won't do them any favours later on in life.
An article published several years ago in Psychology Today magazine highlighted the fact that rich kids tend to have more personal issues than less affluent children, with higher rates of drug abuse, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Much like wealthy adults, well-off youngsters also have a greater propensity to cheat and steal compared to their poorer counterparts.
You just can't get the staff these days, apparently. Building a reliable, trustworthy team around you is never easy. The super-rich might have anyone from nannies, housekeepers, and chauffeurs to personal assistants, accountants, and lawyers on their payroll – and hiring the wrong person can create all manner of problems.
In the worst-case scenario, hiring the wrong accountant can even land you a jail term. In many countries, you are liable for any mistakes your accountant make. If the tax authorities suspect that your accountant has been dishonest on your behalf, you could very well be prosecuted in a criminal court and serve time behind bars.
Being mega-rich and famous too can be a blessing and a curse, with some arguing it leans more toward the latter due to the relentless interest in your private life. Whether it's your staff eavesdropping on your conversations or paparazzi snapping your every move, you can wave bye-bye to having any meaningful privacy.
Secrecy goes hand in hand with being super-rich, as shouting your mouth off about your wealth is never a good idea. However, it's not necessarily a good thing. Research has shown that being secretive can have a detrimental impact on your mental and physical health, and it's linked to increased anxiety and depression, increased progression of disease, and other issues.
The super-rich can be all-too easily affected by what is termed "affluenza", or wealth fatigue syndrome. According to psychoanalyst Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, it manifests in a "relentless quest for material gain", which can lead to symptoms of depression, impatience, and a false sense of entitlement, among other things.
Paradoxically, given the unstoppable urge to increase one's wealth that characterises the condition, a lack of motivation is another symptom of affluenza. If you've made or come into ridiculous amounts of money, the drive to succeed can be dampened. Boredom is also something that many super-rich people experience.
Super-affluent people's lives don't tend to be as carefree as you might imagine. Tedious meetings with accountants, lawyers, and wealth managers – not to mention the various other life-admin tasks that come with being absurdly wealth – can take up serious amounts of time, leaving few windows for them to relax or have fun.
With so many responsibilities, from juggling your legions of staff to overseeing your finances and business ventures, having vast amounts of money can make your life extraordinarily complicated. In turn, this can lead to high levels of stress, and even result in total burnout in some cases.
Ensconced in your ivory tower, being mega-rich can be isolating and leave you sorely out of touch with the lives of ordinary people, and even society as a whole. This is particularly likely if you've been born into wealth and have never had to struggle to put food on the table. That said, even people who have acquired extreme wealth can forget what it was like to be less well-off.
Writing for the Guardian recently, Clay Cockrell, therapist extraordinaire, revealed that many of the billionaire clients he works with struggle with feelings of guilt. Other psychologists have also found that their super-wealthy clients are prone to grappling with the emotion, especially those who came into money later on in life.
Research from the University of British Columbia, meanwhile, shows that the richer you are the less likely you are to take pleasure in life's simpler joys, be it savouring a piece of chocolate or enjoying some quality time with your partner. In fact, the study indicated that even just thinking about money can dull the pleasure significantly.
And it's not only the simple things that become less pleasurable. When you have more money that you know what to do with, even luxuries like designer clothing, high-end jewellery, and supercars can lose their appeal. As one study by Boston University revealed, constant luxury is really no luxury at all, and quickly loses its psychological benefit. Proof, if ever there was, that really is no pleasing some people, right?
Now for the more frivolous downsides, which ordinary people would most definitely dismiss as the definition of first world problems. Have you ever experienced the stress of trying to find a place to moor your superyacht, for example? Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, certainly has. She has bemoaned the lack of space in Brisbane and revealed how she's had to endure “rough sleepless nights” at sea due to the shortage of mooring in the city's marina. We checked but #PrayForGina didn't trend at the time of her revelation...
The super-rich are also succumbing to private jet rage in their droves. The pandemic has fuelled a boom in the industry, with shortages of planes, parts, pilots, crew members, and top-end catering, combined with air traffic control problems, sparking cancellations and delays that are driving the uber-wealthy crazy.
Though the number of vacant hotel suites has no doubt surged due to the pandemic, you might still have issues checking into the swankiest suites. Outrageously, other wealthy people are also trying to catch-up on their missed holidays, meaning luxe suites are booking up fast. Planning a trip to an elite destination spot, such as St Barts, Mykonos, Monaco, or Aspen? Secure your suite ASAP otherwise, heaven forbid, you may have to settle for an inferior hotel room instead.
You'd think having insane amounts of cash would get you instant gratification. However, many of the world's most covetable items, ranging from Bugatti supercars to Rolex watches, are only obtainable after a frustratingly long wait. Even items that no longer have a waiting list attached, like the Hermès Birkin bag, can prove impossible to get hold of. Queue wants to be a millionaire?
Now discover how these people faked their way to a fortune