6 Unrecognizable Signs of Growing Up Wealthy
Written by
G. Brian Davis
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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You can’t tell at a glance who grew up poor or wealthy. In fact, you often can’t tell even after a conversation or two. Still, the signs of growing up with wealth exist, even if they’re subtle. As you meet new people, keep an eye out for these clues to an old-money upbringing.
They Consider Education the End, Not Just the Means
Many people pursue education for the piece of paper they get upon completion. But for the wealthy, education is an end in itself.
“A subtle indicator of a wealthy upbringing is often seen in how someone values education and spends their free time,” said Jeff Mains, CEO of Champion Leadership Group. “Individuals from affluent backgrounds usually engage in learning as a form of personal growth rather than merely to gain qualifications. This allows them to develop a broad range of interests.”
The wealthy know that education can provide other perks as well — such as networking.
They Constantly Nurture Their Network
Ever heard the critique that many public universities offer just as strong an education as uber-elite private colleges that cost six times as much?
It’s often true — but it also misses part of the point.
Wealthy parents encourage their children to attend exclusive, expensive private schools not just for the education but for networking with other elite families.
“Those who grew up wealthy often have a robust network that includes influential figures across various sectors,” said family attorney Katie Lewis. “They are typically accustomed to leveraging these connections strategically, which is often mirrored in how they navigate career paths or personal ventures.
“This networking prowess is instilled from a young age, observed in the elite schooling and extracurricular activities they partake in, which are often geared towards building a formidable social and professional network.”
They Understand Markets Move the World
Poor and middle-class people often rail against the unfairness of who earns what, or how much certain items cost. For example, they might bemoan that teachers earn less than plumbers, despite the difference in degrees.
People who grow up wealthy get it at a glance: More people want to become teachers than plumbers. That leads to a shortage of plumbers — not enough supply to meet the demand. So plumbers can command higher wages.
Lee Yoder, founder and CEO of private equity real estate firm Threefold Real Estate Investing, explained it like this: “The wealthy raise their children not just to understand market pricing, but to see the entire world through that lens. That means they instinctively understand money and economics better and ask better questions.
“If you don’t understand how the system works, you’re hopeless to change it. When you do understand it, you know exactly which levers to pull to change your situation.”
They Don’t Complain or Brag About Money
Sure, the wealthy are more comfortable talking about money — in the context of strategic planning. But they don’t feel the need to flaunt their finances or complain about changes in the market.
Because they understand that markets are cyclical, not elevators that only go up.
“They don’t complain about inflation, tag prices, bills or many other money-related issues,” said Karl Tippins, editor in chief at InterestRate.co.uk. “Wealthy individuals typically have enough resources to cover their basic needs and wants. As a result, they usually don’t feel the need to whine about money since they have a comfortable financial cushion that alleviates financial stress.”
Likewise, the wealthy aren’t insecure. They don’t need to prove anything when it comes to money. In fact, many with significant wealth are extremely modest and down-to-earth people.
They Balance Calculated Risks With Protection
The wealthy aim to leave a legacy behind and plan for the long term — not just for next year or even the next decade, but for the next few generations.
Daniel Meursing, founder and CEO of luxury event staffing agency Premier Staff, has seen it many times.
“I remember one client in particular, a young woman in her early 20s who had just inherited a significant sum of money from her grandfather’s estate. Despite her age, she was incredibly savvy when it came to investing and had a clear plan for how she wanted to grow and protect her wealth over time,” he added.
“It was clear that she had been exposed to these concepts from a young age and had internalized them as a natural part of her financial worldview.”
Meursing also shared, “I remember working with another client who had inherited a significant amount of money at a young age. Rather than spending it all on flashy purchases or living a lavish lifestyle, she was incredibly thoughtful about how she invested and grew her wealth over time.
“She had a clear understanding of the power of compound interest and was always looking for ways to maximize her returns while minimizing her risk.”
They’re Comfortable With Other Cultures and International Travel
Ben Broch, founder of Cover Letter Copilot, observed: “A less obvious clue can be a wide-ranging knowledge of different cultures, languages or international travel experiences.
“Such exposure typically comes from the opportunities afforded by a wealthy upbringing, like traveling extensively or attending prestigious schools with a diverse international community.”
Many people assume the rich all act like spoiled, entitled, no-common-sense brats. They imagine the Kardashians or the Roses from “Schitt’s Creek.”
Some kids of wealthy parents do act that way. But they’re typically kids of first-generation wealth, whose parents don’t know the long game of old money.
Instead, old-money families play the long game of generational wealth: raising their kids not to spend but to invest, compound, grow, network and leave an even bigger pie for their own children.
Consider learning the rules to that game if you want to win it — and raise your kids to do the same.
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