The part about leadership skills creating problems socially is spot on. Apparently I am a natural leader when in groups. (There is a natural "alpha" component

The part about leadership skills creating problems socially is spot on. Apparently I am a natural leader when in groups. (There is a natural "alpha" component to this skill; it's not all learned, but rather built upon at least some innate personality traits.) I acquired additional skills during years spent in management. This sometimes causes friction with others outside of work, and can be especially acute with family and close friends. Occasional friction at work is expected, but when you are the leader by title, persuasion, expertise, and (best) because of "referent power," there are lots of ways to resolve conflicts over direction while preserving relationships. These methods often fail in relationships where the power structures are entirely different and have different bases. When you spend most of your time in one environment, it can be difficult to recognize that your skills don't translate to the other (social) environment. In other words, if people sometimes think you're an asshole at work, the benefits of continuing the relationship often more easily outweigh the costs. The reverse is true in close personal relationships, where you're just an asshole. Then you either learn the different rules and accept that leadership is often much more subtle and soft, or you end up without friends and family. And yes, money can change you for the worse, especially if you did not grow up with it. I have friends whom I discovered years later are third generation wealthy (9 figures) but basically live an upper middle class existence, minus the financial stress. I have other friends who were raised middle class and made a ton of money. They tend to be those complaining about people asking how much they've made. It's the difference between living like Hyman Roth in the Godfather Part II, or living like Tony Montana in Scarface. If people are asking that, you're flashing too much. Either stop pimping your lifestyle, or stop worrying that people treat you like a pimp. Better yet, find a different class of people who also have money and won't ask. But the old money will still call you "noveau riche" for the remainder of your life.