When I see a rich person, I see a rich person. If they're cool, I feel happy for them. If they suck, I feel anger.
Okay, Grandma. I have a got a great story for you. There is a woman - I know about - she married into a family that rejected her because they thought she had no money or education and didn't want her marrying their brother. The marriage happened and everyone ignored it except for one brother who sent a card other than that the entire family ignored the event.
The girl stayed married to the brother and the family decided to try and drive her out by humiliating her, spreading gossip and making fun of her limited education and odd personality. ( she is odd - no question ) The family became united in their rejection of this girl.
The girl went out of her way to remember their birthdays, their kids birthdays, always being a very gracious host - but the family only became worse towards her as they wanted the brother to divorce her. She wasn't worthy of the family name in their opinion. These people were highly educated elitists and their own father left them quite an inheritance.
The girl is visiting with her own mother one day and learns that her grandfathers real estate in NY sold for billions. There was a court battle shortly after his death and the money was put into safe keeping as the lawsuit dragged on - eventually was settled - and although the girls parent ( s ) are in control of it now she will one day inherit this fortune. The husbands family has no idea because the girls mother was estranged for many years from the grandfather over a dispute. They reconciled later after the daughter grew up and nothing was ever mentioned about it.
Now the girl has decided when she gets her inheritance she will leave all of that money to strangers she met along the way who need the help - those people treated her kindly and liked her for being her and nothing else. The truth is the fortune she is going to inherit will dwarf what that family made all heaped together over a lifetime!
Imagine their shock when they learn of this. Because of their decision to be cruel to someone for no reason they missed out. (At this writing their money is going fast - their companies have begun to tumble recently )
Here is the truth of the matter:
Old money never needs to impress. New money ALWAYS needs to impress. Old money can drive an old car and be happy knowing it's just a car. New Money can never be happy with an older car because new money says "I must define you - you're nothing without me"..
Old money can live without air conditioning at the beach house all summer long- new money cannot live there for 5 minutes without a/c - without calling a repairman.
So feel sorry for those miserable wretches, Granny, because they always end up losing in the end.
You cannot buy class. You've either got it or you don't. Money doesn't change people, Granny. It just reveals who they really were all along.
- Jeri