Also, most people don't compare themselves to the richest people today or the richest people from the past. They compare themselves to richer neighbors/relative

Also, most people don't compare themselves to the richest people today or the richest people from the past. They compare themselves to richer neighbors/relatives/coworkers/friends. In the same way people don't get the implication of the word "trillion" when they hear it on the news, people don't really lament Bill Gates's billions or the Walton family's billions. They lament cousin Jack who's making 300k/year while they're making 60k.