Also, social control is quite a bit stricter in a lot of (especially northern) european countries compared to the US. Showing one's wealth is in bad taste, and

Also, social control is quite a bit stricter in a lot of (especially northern) european countries compared to the US. Showing one's wealth is in bad taste, and bragging about status is considering being an outlier. This is slowly changing (since about the 80's) but prior to that, showing off your middle class wealth as a status indicator was frowned upon in certain circles. especially considering the hardship most people endured during and after ww2.