Western society is full of inconsistencies, but few are more baffling than those surrounding our perception of wealth.
On the one hand, we praise money with all our hearts. Books, courses, and even reality TV shows invite us to “be a millionaire.” We consider the number of digits in our annual salary to be the measure of our success. Countless business opportunities, both legit and otherwise, encourage us to “grow our wealth” and “net worth.” We’re taught from a young age to go to college so we can “get a good-paying job” (and heaven forbid you choose to get a liberal arts degree). We’re sold dreams of comfortable homes, delicious food, and globetrotting wonders — if we can only afford it.
Money shapes every aspect of our lives and defines our societal value. Even if you’re happy with your current position, there’s always someone wondering why you aren’t richer or contributing to society more. What are you worth if you don’t earn six figures?!
Yet on the other hand, the rich are typically (and often, rightfully) vilified, with both fictional characters such as Mr. Potter and Scrooge and real-life figures such as Bezos and Musk earning scorn for their superficial and greedy behaviors. They fail the “Scrooge test”: if you have money, did you earn it? If so, do you use it morally?
