Activity

But María isn’t averse to wealthy people, or even wealth itself. “I think [wealth] is great if you are wealthy,” she stresses, in good faith. But at the same time, “the people who are super wealthy, I would love it if they would share more and really help those who don’t have.” Undergirding her vie…

One gentleman we interviewed, who came to Teton County about twelve years ago with his wife and two children, put it this way: “People with money have it because of their work, or their ancestors have worked hard for what they had, and I know people that are in this position are humble and kind.” I…

Others spoke in similar terms, underscoring exactly why they will not be shamed into feeling bad for working hard. It’s a matter of personal choice, according to a real estate developer who moved to this community from San Francisco. “There are people that choose to goof off” when they could have s…

“Thank God for rich people,” said one ultra-wealthy respondent, in his attempt to sum up the reason for why he doesn’t feel guilty. He was alluding to the way wealth percolates down from rarefied heights to the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. One respondent—a CEO from the Midwest—made thi…

“There’s definitely resentment, when they see someone building a $15 million house. But in some ways the people are making a choice, ‘I want to be a ski-bum and work for the ski area [chuckles],’ you know,” explained one ultra-wealthy respondent. Other interviewees spoke in similar terms. An invest…