It seems like, to obviously generalize, a need to look successful. "My son is a successful partner at a firm after graduating Harvard," instead of having to say

It seems like, to obviously generalize, a need to look successful. "My son is a successful partner at a firm after graduating Harvard," instead of having to say, "oh, he is unemployed but it's because I'm wealthy." Besides the education part though, the other thing I've seen with wealthy families is appointing kids to high positions in a family business, or saying they are "in real estate." I'm not sure why they just wouldn't do that instead of bribing colleges, but maybe if their kid is set on doing something the family will "make sure they can." Some families even surreptiously won't want to let their kids learn or step out on their own, they want to be involved in everything even after they are adults. The kids in that case must allow that to happen, but probably not too hard to "give up" if you get to drive a luxury car and live in a classy apartment building regardless of employment.