I agree. Wealth begets wealth, but unearned wealth begets expensive taste :) Looking at the uberwealthy is deceptive, because they're a product not only of th

I agree. Wealth begets wealth, but unearned wealth begets expensive taste :) Looking at the uberwealthy is deceptive, because they're a product not only of their own skill and ambition but the circumstances where they made the fortune. 5 years earlier or later and Bill Gates wouldn't be a billionaire (ditto most computer billionaires - they were the right person in the right window of time). They are outliers, black swans, etc. Hard to make theories based on them. If you look at (to draw an arbitrary line) people making more than $100,000/yr, I'll bet they are either a) business owners or b) highly educated (college and above).